Below are just some of the benefits that will be generated by the EEN:

Skills:

It is intended that up to 10 apprenticeships will be created each year during the construction phase to deliver new skills into Exeter, and it is also intended that local jobs would be created during the operation phase.  We are working closely with Exeter College to ensure we maximise opportunities for job creation.

Air quality:

By removing the need for individual gas boilers in commercial buildings in the city centre we’ll be avoiding localised burning of fossil fuels for heating, which will improve air quality in the city.

Net-Zero:

The proposed district heating network would make a significant contribution to the achievement of net-zero for Exeter, in line with the city’s 2030 net zero goal. The EEN will reduce emissions in Exeter by approximately 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per year in phase one.

District heating provides the most economical option available for decarbonising heating in Exeter, for both the Public and the Private Sector, with costs being around 30% cheaper than the most economical alternative zero-carbon heating option available. This means that Exeter can achieve decarbonisation cheaper with the EEN, benefiting local businesses, communities and citizens.

Inward investment:

By providing this alternative heating method, and by offering a secure, local, heating source, Exeter can improve competitiveness to make the city more attractive to employers and to secure inward investment – boosting clean growth. The EEN will speed up the pace of decarbonisation as it is the simplest method of securing low carbon heating for buildings. We do almost all the work to connect the buildings to the EEN, and the method of connection is a simple replacement of the boiler with a heat network connection (alternate methods require each building owner to figure out how to decarbonise their building themselves).

The EEN will enable developers to meet the building regulations and local planning conditions at a lower cost, making it more attractive to build developments in Exeter than in other cities that do not have district heating.

The network would become a major pillar of Exeter as a leading city in the battle against climate change, engaging developers and demonstrating Exeter’s credentials as the country’s leading clean growth district. The benefits of the EEN are also likely to prove attractive to potential new employers looking for an effective way to procure clean, reliable and cost-effective heating.