Blackpool

Blackpool Council’s plan to turn waste heat into shared prosperity.

Net Zero Living funding is enabling Blackpool Council to explore a cooperative heat network using waste heat from renewable powered data centres. With direct data links to Ireland, the USA and Europe, Blackpool is ideally placed to host this infrastructure.

Led by Net Zero Innovation Delivery Lead Andy Pickard and delivered in partnership with Community Broadband Network Limited, the project is being designed as a cooperative to share ownership, manage risk and, crucially, return long term benefits to local people and public services.

By mapping demand, assessing generation potential and testing commercial models, the council is developing a scalable system. It is now estimated that a £10 million investment could create 100 jobs, save £5 million annually on energy bills and lift 2 percent of Blackpool households out of fuel poverty, making decarbonisation a driver of economic renewal.

Find out more

If you are interested in learning how to transform your community, town or city, then read the Blended Finance Regional Funds for Net Zero report. If you would like to speak to someone about this project, contact the Net Zero Living team.