The Bristol heat network in 2025: 11,500 homes equivalent committed to decarbonising their heating systems
Since we began operating the Bristol heat network in January 2023, the city’s energy infrastructure has continued to transform. As of July 2025, we are now supplying low carbon heat to the equivalent of 11,500 homes in Bristol, with 35 buildings already connected and 5 committed to connect in the pipeline. This milestone marks a significant step forward in Bristol’s journey to net zero, under the ambitious Bristol City Leap partnership.
Heat networks provide a city-scale solution to decarbonising heat, enabling a faster transition away from individual gas boilers. By distributing centrally generated heat to multiple buildings - sourced from water, air, and waste heat – there is a widespread reduction of carbon emissions, improved operational efficiency, and resilience of energy systems at both a building and city level.
As one of the UK’s most climate-forward cities, Bristol is demonstrating how heat networks can be delivered at scale and pace with the right combination of expertise, investment, and local authority support.
In the past year, new and existing buildings have continued to join the heat network. This includes 10 Feeder Road - currently under development by Bristol-based Unite as student accomodation - located near the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC), which is also connected to the heat network. Other recent completed connections include a new sustainable workplace called Welcome Building® and a retrofit at Temple Quay House. Each of these projects reflects a shared commitment to decarbonising heating systems and advancing Bristol’s carbon neutrality goals.
To explore all connected buildings, visit our interactive map of the Bristol heat network.
One of the latest buildings to connect to the Bristol heat network, Welcome Building®, was recently named New Build Development of the Year (Midlands and South) at the Unlock Net Zero Awards. Judges praised its innovative and comprehensive approach to decarbonisation, with the connection to the Bristol heat network cited as a distinctive edge:
“This project is all about performance—targeting and achieving a huge array of top-tier certifications while delivering net-zero operation and strong tenant well-being. The connectivity to the Bristol Heat Network is a big win.” – Judge, Unlock Net Zero Awards
Vattenfall takes a bespoke approach to each connection, tailoring systems to maximise both operational and commercial value. The team behind Welcome Building®, shared their experience.
At Welcome Building®, we set out to create a workplace of the future that also set new standards for sustainability, wellbeing, community and flexibility. Our commitment to ensure minimal environmental impact included working closely with Vattenfall to connect the building to the Bristol heat network, from which it extracts all of its heat load. It has been a rewarding process and we are proud to be an early adopter of such an innovative initiative.
The heat network’s growth is a reflection of our investment and expertise as an energy leader. Recent investment has enabled the Bristol based team to upgrade existing infrastructure, lay new heat network pipes, and design permanent low carbon energy centres to support future expansion.
Recent works include:
- Upgrading historic pipework in Redcliffe through the Government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme
- Installing new heat network pipe routes in Bedminster (via Windmill Hill City Farm) and Temple (as part of the development of Bristol Temple Quarter)
- Preparing to construct a new heat network area, Frome, spanning from the Frome Gateway Regeneration area to Harbourside, with works expected to begin later this year
In parallel, we are progressing plans for new permanent low carbon energy centres. This month, the team submitted a planning application for the Bath Road Energy Centre, a large air-source heat pump facility near Bristol Temple Meads, designed to generate low carbon heat for thousands more buildings.
For more project updates on the Bristol heat network, visit the Bristol City Leap website.
Jon Sankey, Head of Business Development at Vattenfall, reflected on the Bristol heat network’s momentum, including their new partnership with the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus to export waste heat to the Bristol heat network.
“We continue to bring more new buildings onto the Bristol heat network, giving us the scale we need to connect, decarbonise and expand the existing networks, getting more pipes in the ground that we can use to decarbonise existing buildings – like Temple Quay House.
“It’s exciting to agree our first source of third-party waste heat to contribute to the network from next year and plans are taking shape for another large heat pump energy centre at Bath Road, showing what we’ll be able to achieve for Bristol and the environment as we increase our coverage.”
Want to learn more?
Explore our 2050 Vision for the Bristol heat network here.
See also
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