Wastewater flowing beneath Rochdale could soon be used to heat public buildings and homes under plans backed by £1 million in government funding.
The proposed project would use heat recovered from a town centre sewer to supply low cost and lower carbon heating to buildings including Rochdale Infirmary, schools, social housing and leisure facilities.
Rochdale Council says the scheme is expected to provide around 28GWh of heating and forms part of wider regeneration plans for the town centre, with work currently expected to begin in 2029.
The project has received support through the Government’s Green Heat Network Fund and would involve extracting thermal energy from wastewater using heat exchangers and heat pumps.
An energy centre is proposed for the current Mecca Bingo car park near Number One Riverside.
Council leaders say the network would remove the need for individual boilers, hot water tanks and heat pumps in connected buildings. Heating and hot water would instead be supplied through a smaller heat exchanger system with individual controls for users.
The plans come as heating emissions accounted for more than a third of emissions across the borough in 2023.
Tricia Ayrton said, “The scheme is a key part of Rochdale’s town centre regeneration and is expected to create jobs and apprenticeships, while the significant grant will help us deliver a low carbon heating system that will cut bills and CO2 emissions, improve air quality and provide energy efficient heating for public buildings.”
The council said buildings which could benefit include Rochdale Town Hall, leisure facilities, schools, the police station, businesses and nearby housing.
A business case is now being prepared ahead of procurement work before the proposed 2029 start date.
Councillor Ayrton added, “We will keep residents and local businesses informed as plans progress.”
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