GREENSCIES BARNSLEY
Pioneering a radical community blueprint–a pathway to low-carbon, sustainable energy transformation.
barnsley’s quest for a better future
In the heart of Barnsley, a determined community banded together to take a stand against the inefficient and unsustainable energy systems that were harming their beloved planet.
They craved a reliable solution that would allow them to reduce their carbon footprint, save on energy bills, and keep their homes warm and connected. And with Green Smart Community Integrated Energy System (GreenSCIES), they found their answer.
Collaborating for community progress
GreenSCIES is a collaborative project between Imperial College London, Vattenfall, and the London Borough of Islington that aims to create a smart, integrated energy system for low-carbon urban communities.
Barnsley was chosen as the perfect demonstration site for this innovative system, a tight-knit community that longed for sustainable solutions that aligned with their values and needs.
The community played an active role in every step of the process, ensuring that the project reflected their priorities.
They worked closely with the project team to design and implement an innovative system that not only met their energy needs but also fostered a stronger sense of connection and relationship between the people and the planet.
A New Era of Innovation for Sustainable Urban Living
At the heart of the GreenSCIES system is a ground source heat pump that extracts heat from the earth and uses it to heat the buildings. This highly efficient system reduces the community's reliance on non-renewable energy sources, allowing residents to stay warm and cosy while also reducing their carbon footprint.
But the system doesn't stop there. It incorporates a thermal energy storage tank that stores excess heat for use during periods of high demand, optimising energy use, and reducing waste.
It's an innovative solution that offers opportunities to explore the potential of energy storage systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of communities.
The low-temperature district heating network is perhaps the most exciting feature of the GreenSCIES system in Barnsley.
This revolutionary system uses small, modular heat pumps distributed throughout the network, allowing for greater flexibility and efficiency than traditional district heating systems.
It offers an opportunity to explore the potential of community-based energy systems, where residents work together to manage and maintain the system, fostering a stronger sense of community and ownership.
Community Benefits
But what was truly remarkable was the deeper connection and relationship the community had formed with their environment. They were becoming more aware of the impact their energy consumption had on the environment and were taking steps to reduce it.
Through the low-temperature district heating network, the system distributed heat to the buildings in the site using small, modular heat pumps that encouraged the community to work together to manage and maintain the system.
It was an opportunity for the community to come together and take ownership of their energy system, fostering a stronger sense of community and connection.
Scaling Thrivability
Thanks to GreenSCIES, the Barnsley community has been able to reduce its carbon footprint and forge a deeper connection with the world around them, becoming more aware of the impact their energy consumption has on the environment.
As the project continues to develop and expand, it has the potential to become a model for sustainable energy systems in other communities around the world.
Through its emphasis on connection and relationship, it's showing us that it's not just about reducing our carbon footprint but also about fostering deeper connections with nature and with one another. And that's a story worth sharing.