In May 2026, Vital Energi was selected as preferred development partner for the proposed £400m city-wide heat network opportunity, with an estimated contract value of £4.2bn.

The opportunity

The proposed network spans the City Centre, waterfront and Derriford areas of Plymouth and forms a key part of the city’s wider energy security and net zero ambitions.

Current plans include:

• Around 37km of proposed pipework

• More than 200 GWh/year of heating demand

• Approximately 50 GWh/year of cooling demand

• Estimated carbon savings of up to 47,000 tCO2e annually

The network has the potential to support a wide range of public, residential, education and commercial buildings across the city.

Our role

Amberside Advisors supported the project from early commercial development through procurement and partner selection.

Our role included:

• Commercial and financial advisory

• Procurement strategy and management

• Preparation of procurement documentation

• Bidder engagement and dialogue management

• Stakeholder engagement with heat offtakers and heat source providers

• Support for the project’s Green Heat Network Fund application

The project also involved supporting Plymouth City Council in navigating emerging AZP commercial structures and helping de-risk the opportunity throughout procurement and commercialisation.

Amberside Advisors continues to support Plymouth City Council as the scheme progresses through further development and commercialisation stages toward delivery.