BusinessHome Customers HomeOur WorkThe University of Edinburgh THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH The University of Edinburgh Utilities Supply Company Executive Summary Vital Energi’s CHP energy installation at the University of Edinburgh threw up more challenges than most, with archaeology and conservation issues and restricted access, but with those challenges overcome, the project is now saving the university money on its energy bills while lowering its CO₂ emissions. £8m contract value 12 weeks to construct watertight energy centre building 4km of district heating pipework 1,016 tonnes of CO2 reduction Project Overview The University of Edinburgh proved to be one of the most challenging projects Vital Energi had undertaken. The 431-year-old University brought with it a mix of conservation and heritage issues, extremely limited access and a hugely challenging timescale for completion of the project. This timescale was made even more difficult due to scheduled periods where work ceased to accommodate the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and student exams. The energy centre houses one CHP 1.4MWe engine, a 100,000-litre thermal storage, two 9MW back-up/peak load gas boilers, High Voltage/Low Voltage switch-rooms and associated plant. The CHP engine will provide heat and hot water via a district heating network which involved approximately 4km of pipe connecting 13 sites and generating electricity for 14 buildings. Our Solution The system being installed is one of the best low carbon solutions we’ve found over the years and we can make significant savings, in terms of thousands of tonnes of carbon per year, and that is a major contribution to our overall targets. Vital have shown themselves to be flexible during the course of this project. There were several instances, such as during the exam period and the Edinburgh Fringe when some areas of work had to stop and Vital have had to work around it and through good planning and management they continued to meet the tight deadlines while causing as little disruption to the University and Edinburgh and its stakeholders. David Barratt, Operations Manger, University of Edinburgh Key Benefits Working in a historically rich environment Working within the historic part of Edinburgh brought its own challenges. We had to lay district heating pipe beneath Flodden Wall which is a historic monument, meticulously removing and replacing cobbled streets and were accompanied by an archaeologist who was plotting the boundaries of the old city wall. The work also led to the discovery of a knight’s skeleton during excavation in High School Yards, which created a temporary delay. Utilising pre-fabrication to meet timescales Overcoming access issues to deliver an optimised solution Working with the client to understand their long-term plans and deliver a future-proofed solution Delivered on-time, on-budget and performing as designed Further education Combined heat & power (CHP) Pre-insulated pipework Enhancing resillience Scotland Completed Retrofit Share: University of Edinburgh Utilities Supply Company Download Case Study University of Edinburgh Utilities Supply Company Case Study 1.5 Mb RELATED CASE STUDY University of St Andrews Biomasss Other Related Projects University of Strathclyde - Design Value 14.5m Contract length 24 Month The University of Strathclyde - Design University of Liverpool - CHP Value £6.14m Contract length 12 Months University of Liverpool - CHP University of St Andrews Value £25m Contract length Ongoing University of St Andrews NDEE University of Warwick Value £1m The University of Warwick Products and Services How we delivered this project Energy Centres Energy Conservation Measures District heating, cooling and power Operation & Maintenance Creative, collaborative and complete HOW CAN WE HELP? Feasibility Project Development Commercialisation Delivery & continuous improvement PRODUCTS & SERVICES Energy Generation Energy Distribution Energy supply & consumption management Our Services OTHER Our Work Media About Vital Careers Contact Subscribe to our latest insights Hello@email.com Accessibility PolicyCookie PolicyPrivacy PolicyModern Slavery Policy © Vital Energi