Serving many of the most prestigious local authority buildings and commercial properties in the centre of Birmingham, the Birmingham District Energy Scheme was designed, built, financed and is operated by Cofely District Energy. The first phase, the Broad Street District Energy Scheme, supplies a range of buildings in the central business district and became operational in 2007, served by an energy centre attached to the International Conference Centre (ICC). The later phases of the scheme incorporate Aston University’s main campus and the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The district energy scheme saves approximately 9,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, massively out-performing the emissions savings that would be expected to be achieved with individual action from the scheme’s consumers. Importantly, rather than charging a green premium for supplies of low-carbon energy from the scheme, consumers benefit from reduced energy costs when compared with the all-in costs of conventional energy supplies. Estimated operational cost savings for the scheme’s consumers are in excess of £300,000 per annum. In addition to current consumers’ buildings, covering a floor area of over half a million square metres, the scheme has significant strategic plans for expansion and will become a key feature in several of Birmingham’s regeneration areas. Ultimately, each of the separate schemes will be linked together, creating a city centre wide thermal network with maximum operational efficiency that saves the city of Birmingham significant carbon emissions; saves its consumers significant operational costs, and continues to act as an exemplar scheme for others to learn from.