Leep Utilities recently welcomed a cross-sector delegation to our trigeneration Energy Centre at MediaCityUK, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the North West’s most significant low-carbon heat and power assets. Delivered in collaboration with the Danish Board of District Heating and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the event brought together representatives from several city and borough councils, alongside colleagues from DESNZ and the Scottish Government.
A Guided Look at a Working Trigeneration Network
Following essential safety inductions, guests were taken on a guided tour led by Ieman Barmaki, Director of Heat, and Mike Smith, our Operations Manager. Together, they walked attendees through the origins of the MediaCityUK network, the strategic need it serves, and the benefits of its trigeneration capability, providing heat, cooling and electricity to one of the region’s fastest-growing digital and creative hubs.
The tour explored:
- How the system is managed and monitored to ensure resilience and efficiency
- Key technologies and equipment that enable the network to meet fluctuating demands
- Plans for future development, including how the network will evolve to support decarbonisation goals
Seeing Scale and Interconnectivity First-Hand
The visit sparked a number of thoughtful questions from attendees, all of which our team were able to field directly on site. Many guests noted how valuable it was to experience the Energy Centre in person, the opportunity to see the equipment up close offered a clearer understanding of system interconnectivity, operational complexity, and the scale required to deliver reliable low-carbon heat.
Demonstrating Expertise and Supporting the Sector
For Leep, the event was an important opportunity to share knowledge, showcase real-world delivery, and support councils and policymakers in progressing their own heat network ambitions. It also demonstrated the strength of industry collaboration, with valuable insights shared across UK and Danish partners.
If you’re exploring heat network development or considering independent network adoption and long-term management, we’d be delighted to share our experience. Get in touch with Ieman Barmaki, our Director of Heat, for an initial conversation about how Leep can help you overcome project challenges and unlock the benefits of efficient, future-ready heat networks.