Large swathes of Plymouth businesses and homes could soon benefit from an innovative new system of heat networks.
As one of just a handful of UK cities involved in the government's Heat Network Zoning Pilot, the Council has been working on planning the first phase of this system.
Heat networks, also known as district heating, use a central source of heat which is distributed to consumers, via a network of underground pipes carrying hot water.
So instead of each building in the city using their own individual gas boilers or electric heaters, the system creates what is in effect a city-wide central heating system.
Waste heat, from other processes such as manufacturing and data centres, is by far the cheapest source of heat and also decouples the supply of heat from some of the volatility of energy prices, associated with fossil fuels. It also provides a more efficient and lower carbon heating solution.
Plans for the first phase, which would see external funding of up to £60m spent on connecting-up major buildings in the city centre with the waterfront, are set to be presented to Cabinet on Monday 9 September.
Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, said: "This is an incredibly ambitious and complex project but the demands of the climate emergency are such that we have to be bold in our planning for the future.
"Heat networks like this have got the potential to revolutionise how urban buildings - be that commercial or residential - are heated and in the future, possibly cooled.
“Added to the end benefits of the actual scheme are the economic benefits of its construction, which will support growth with green jobs and skills development.
"I'm really pleased to support this project and commit the Council to supporting this through the first phase and beyond."
The masterplan for the new heat network shows two zones.
The first, in the southern and western areas of the city, is based principally around two large waste heat sources; the South West Water Central Plant, and the Devonport Energy from Waste plant.
The second zone, in the north of the city at Derriford, is focused around waste heat from the NHS medical waste incinerator, together with expanding the existing ground source heating scheme at Marjons University to provide heating and cooling across this area.
While the first phase of the project will focus on business and commercial premises, the long-term ambition is for the scheme to be used for social, and eventually, other housing.
Should the Cabinet report be approved, the Council will seek the procurement of a development partner and submit an application to the Green Heat Network Fund to financially support the delivery of the first phase of the project.