Portbury Avonmouth Severnside - Heat Network Feasibility Study

Funded by DESNZ Heat Network Delivery Unit

 

 

SevernNet is working with partners to investigate whether a shared, low-carbon heat network could make use of waste heat from local industry to deliver a more reliable, affordable and sustainable heat/cooling supply for local businesses.

Project Partners

About the Study

We’ve long recognised the potential of heat as a valuable local resource and understood the opportunity it presents. It’s been a long-term ambition to undertake an exclusive study to explore this within the industrial area across PAS and we’re thrilled to have secured dedicated funding to realise this.

Our goal is simple: to ensure that the local business and residential community are the first to benefit from the industrial waste heat being considered for integration into a shared heat network.

 

Is this really better for the environment and for our community?

In theory, yes. By reusing heat generated from industrial processes (such as the burning of non-recyclable, “black-bin” waste), we can significantly cut down on emissions while making smarter use of local resources and abiding by the principles of industrial symbiosis.

The results of this study will help us understand this in-depth.

 

The Study period is from January – March 2026       Outcomes of the study will be shared with the stakeholders involved

Did You Know?

Cooling technologies like refrigeration or freezers inevitably create waste heat that could be reused.

Reversely, waste heat can also be used to satisfy industrial cooling requirements through sorption systems, which replace mechanical, electricity-heavy compressors with a thermal-chemical process.

A Guide to Heat Networks for Industry

We’ve put together a short guide to Heat Networks to help explain how they work and their potential applications within industrial settings. Explore the guide to learn how it could benefit your business and its operations.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE GUIDE >>>

What will the Study tell us?

Over the course of the study, we will aim to answer the following questions:

 

  • What are the most cost-effective low-carbon heat sources available locally?
  • How much waste heat could be reused locally and for what purposes?
  • Which businesses or clusters offer the best potential for a shared heat network?
  • What are the technical options for capturing, storing, and transferring that heat efficiently?
  • What routes or connections could link industrial sites to nearby users or city-wide networks?
  • What are the potential cost savings and carbon reductions for participating businesses?
  • What are the most viable delivery and financing models to bring a shared system forward?
  • How can these findings support future heat network zoning and regional decarbonisation plans?
  • What are the recommended next steps to turn feasibility into a deliverable project?

Upcoming Events...

Drop-in Session following Breakfast with Bristol City Leap 🥐

 

Come and talk to us about your energy usage, heat or cooling systems, sustainability projects and how to contribute to the study.

Where? Avonmouth Community Centre,

When? 26 February 2026

Time?  drop-in between 9.00 -11.30

Heat Networks Explained & Local Opportunities for Innovation

Join us for an informational lunchtime webinar on heat networks, how they work, its potential for the local area & more – followed by a Q&A.

Where? Microsoft Teams

When? 12 March 2026

Time? 13.00 – 14.00

Want to Get Involved?

  • Share your heat use data through our survey or a one-to-one discussion with benita@severnnet.org
  • Talk to us about your heat or cooling systems or energy projects that could link into the network.
  • Stay informed by joining our mailing list for updates.