Plymouth City Council has appointed Vital Energi Utilities Ltd as Heat Network Development Partner in Plymouth. 

The core rationale for the decision is to advance Plymouth's ambitions around clean energy infrastructure, carbon reduction, and economic development. The scheme requires no Council capital funding, keeping financial risk very low. At the same time, the environmental benefits are projected to be substantial — with carbon savings of around 11,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year in the first phase, rising to over 31,000 tonnes annually across both zones at full build-out. The project also aims to improve local air quality by reducing reliance on gas boilers and to enhance energy security through the use of local renewable and waste heat sources, aligning directly with the Council's Corporate Plan priority for green investment, jobs, and skills.