Connecting community energy to Bristol’s heat network: Windmill Hill City Farm case study

A community hub with a climate mission

Windmill Hill City Farm spans four and a half acres and has been a cornerstone of the local community in Bedminster for nearly 50 years. With buildings dedicated to farming, education and environmental stewardship, the farm is now turning its attention to decarbonising its heating systems.

Chief Executive Steve Sayers shared, “We learned through a survey from the Centre for Sustainable Energy that half of our carbon emissions stem from heating our buildings. By focusing on decarbonising our heating system, we could significantly reduce our overall carbon footprint.”

Exploring connection to the Bristol heat network

Thanks to the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund, jointly funded by Vattenfall and Ameresco, the farm has received three grants to assess and improve its energy systems:

• Initial feasibility study to explore connection to the Bristol heat network
• Detailed feasibility study of seven buildings, including heating potential and project phasing
• Retrofit options appraisal to identify insulation and energy efficiency measures

These studies have helped the farm build a roadmap for reducing carbon emissions and potentially connecting to the Bristol heat network currently being installed through its grounds.

Supporting community-led heat projects

Whilst we continue to install new energy infrastructure above and below ground, we hope to widen opportunity for community participation to. In Bristol, Vattenfall can facilitate and fund community energy projects through the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund that support local community-led heat generation and heat connection projects to the Bristol heat network.

Guidance for community groups can be found here.

The concept of a heat network acting as an anchor to support small, community schemes is new, but it’s already being explored by active applicants like Windmill Hill City Farm. These groups are looking at how they can participate, either by supplying excess heat to the city network or connecting as customers served by it.

Watch the case study video on Windmill Hill City Farm here.

Delivering more than heat

As part of our works to install the Bristol heat network along the perimeter of Windmill Hill City Farm grounds, Vattenfall is also delivering wider community improvements, including:

• Enhanced walkways for accessibility
• Resurfaced vehicle paths
• New entry gates and fencing
• New cattle equipment for the improved cow shed (in partnership with Dandara Living)

These upgrades reflect our commitment to delivering social value alongside new low carbon energy infrastructure.

Encouraging community participation

Steve Sayers encourages other community groups to get involved: “We’ve had a positive experience…I’d encourage anyone considering applying to go for it!”

The Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund is designed to support community-led energy projects through grants and loans, with profits reinvested to create a sustainable cycle of support.

If you're part of a community group and want to explore how you can participate, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch.