Executive to consider proposal for new Civic Quarter Heat Network company.

Executive to consider a proposal for new Civic Quarter Heat Network company.

The Civic Quarter Heat Network (CQHN) will operate for at least 30 years and will reduce the city’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3,500 tonnes per year. It will improve air quality by reducing industrial emissions while creating future revenue for the council through the sale of low-carbon energy to city centre customers. 
A report to be considered on Wednesday 10 January recommends that the Executive endorse a proposal to create a council-owned company, which would be responsible for operating and managing the CQHN.
The new company would control two subsidiaries – CouncilCo, which would provide supplies and services directly to the council and TradeCo, which would undertake the commercial activity, providing services and supplies to third parties. The board of the proposed company would be led by an appropriately qualified independent Chair. It is forecast that over the duration of the CQHN’s 30-year business plan, the company will generate a surplus from its trading activity.
The energy centre will be situated within the external car parking area of Manchester Central Convention Complex and includes a 40m flue, designed by award-winning architects Tonkin Liu. The CQHN will provide reliable supplies of low-carbon heat and power and will be the first modern heat network in Manchester. The project is expected to act as a trailblazer for other such environmentally friendly initiatives.