Wirral Council

In 2020, Wirral Council (WC) commissioned a feasibility study into a district heat network in Birkenhead.
This was funded and supported by the Heat Network Delivery Unit (HNDU) from the then Department of
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

In 2023, building on the outcomes of the preceding technical work, WC commissioned an Outline Business
Case (OBC). The OBC recommended continuing with the development of the heat network and sought
approval to apply to the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Green Heat Network Fund
(GHNF) for grant funding to support commercialisation of the project.

Subsequent to the OBC, approval was given to apply for grant funding to the GHNF and an application
was made in Round 7 and notification of the successful outcome received in June 2024.

The project is now in the commercialisation stage and WC is preparing for a forthcoming procurement
exercise to select a private sector partner to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the network.

Prior to formal tendering of the project, WC are carrying out an exercise to raise market awareness of the
project and the planned implementation approach, as well as to identify any factors which the market
considers would prevent successful implementation of the planned approach.