TENDERS are to be invited for a design and build framework contract for a pipeline to connect Aberdeen’s energy from waste facility to the city’s existing district heating networks.
Aberdeen City Council said the new pipeline – which would extend from the Tullos facility to Seaton, Tillydrone, and the city centre – would make the existing networks more resilient, energy efficient, and have reduced carbon emissions.
The Aberdeen Heat and Power City Centre, Seaton and Tillydrone networks serve a range of public and community buildings and several multi-storey residential blocks. The network also supplies heat to local schools, nurseries, and sheltered housing. More than 1,600 residential properties are connected to the network.
The majority of heat supplied to Aberdeen Heat and Power networks is generated using gas-fuelled combined heat and power generators and gas boilers. The supply of low carbon heat through the new pipeline will reduce the overall impact of carbon emissions for heating and hot water demand for properties connected to the networks, the council said.
Furthermore, the pipeline will reduce the exposure of Aberdeen Heat and Power to volatile energy markets.
The proposed route for the 4km pipeline would start at Tullos recreation ground connecting to the Torry Heat Network which in turn connects to the energy from waste low carbon heat source. The pipeline would then runs east across Tullos recreation ground and St Fittick’s Park until it meets St Fittick’s Road. The pipeline would then track north along St Fittick’s Road and across the practice area of Balnagask Golf Course to a tunnel going under the mouth of the River Dee and Aberdeen harbour.
The tunnel below the harbour will be constructed using a tunnel boring machine, launched from a shaft on the southern side, allowing the pipeline to be installed entirely below ground without disruption to Port of Aberdeen operations.
Exiting the tunnel in the Footdee play area, the pipeline would then run northwards along Pocra Quay onto the Esplanade, terminating at a new Beach Energy Centre to be located next to the Beach Ballroom. The Beach Energy Centre serves as the main pumping and distribution point for injecting heat into the Aberdeen Heat and Power City Centre and Seaton heat networks.
As part of these works, the Seaton heat network will be connected to the Tillydrone heat network via a piped interconnector running along School Road and St Machar Drive paving the way for future network growth.
Earlier this month, the council’s finance and resources committee agreed tenders will be invited for a design and build framework contract for the pipeline with detailed design of the network to RIBA Stage 4. The successful contractor would also provide a fixed price for the construction of the transmission pipeline.
