Thousands of homes in Bristol connected to new district heat networks could have their homes warmed by burning rubbish in an incinerator in Avonmouth. A 20-kilometre pipe is planned to run through the city from an energy-from-waste plant, costing up to £100 million.
Plans for a strategic heat main form a key part of the City Leap deal, between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and Vattenfall, to cut the city’s carbon emissions. The 20-year deal is due to be signed off by the cabinet on Tuesday, December 6, leading to hundreds of millions in investment.
But ahead of the cabinet decision, questions were raised about whether relying on burning rubbish for heat is environmentally sustainable, given the unknown amount of carbon dioxide emitted from incinerating non-recyclable waste. Company bosses faced questions about their plans on Monday, December 5, from the overview and scrutiny management board.
