The government will provide £65m to support five green heating projects across the country through the Green Heat Network Fund
This round of funding builds upon the £122m already allocated to support 11 new heat network projects nationwide through the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.
The transition to heat networks is essential in the UK’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, as heating in buildings accounts for 30% of the country’s total emissions.
How will the Green Heat Network Fund be spent?
These projects include the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation in London, which will recycle waste heat from data centres to provide heating for local communities.
The heat network, which received £36m in government funding, will connect 10,000 new homes and 250,000m2 of commercial space to a low-carbon energy source. The network will play a crucial role in the UK’s mission to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
These green heating projects will also be introduced in Watford, Suffolk, and Lancaster. These projects are expected to generate thousands of skilled job opportunities.
Lancaster University is receiving over £21m in support to set up a low-carbon heat network on campus. The network will use a large heat pump powered by solar and an existing wind turbine, creating a carbon-free campus.
Chilton Woods, Suffolk, will receive £745,000 for a low-carbon heating project for nearly 1,000 homes and a primary school, with excess energy integrated into the National Grid.
The London Borough of Brent has secured nearly £5.2m for the South Kilburn District Heat Network, serving 34 sites and 2,900 customers using air-source heat pumps.
Watford Community Housing will get £1.8m to replace an old gas district heating system with ground source and air source heat pumps for 252 apartments.
UK looks to lead the way in decarbonisation
“Innovative projects, like these announced today, are another example of why the UK is a world leader in cutting carbon emissions,” said Claire Coutinho, Energy Security Secretary.
“We are investing in the technologies of the future so that families across the country will now be able to warm their homes with low-carbon, recycled heat – while creating thousands of new skilled jobs,” she continued.
“Heat decarbonisation in buildings is a huge challenge, and one that is often fundamentally misunderstood – heat networks are the only internationally proven route for decarbonising heat at scale, yet most people don’t know what they are,” added Matthew Basnett, of the Association for Decentralised Energy.
“We are excited to see that another round of the Green Heat Network Fund has been successful and celebrate the news that a first-in-the-UK development will use waste heat from data centres to keep more than 10,000 homes warm, comfortable and affordable in the long term,” he concluded.
