District heating projects across the UK are to receive a total of £24 million in government funding.
Heat networks – sometimes referred to as ‘central heating for cities’ – link homes, offices and other buildings to a single source, saving energy by eliminating the need for individual boilers.
361 Degrees’ own work on district heating projects can include combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which reduce waste by converting fuel into both electricity and heat in a single process. Most of the 13 projects funded will use CHP technology, with heat pumps and energy from waste plants also on the list.
A further four projects will share £200,000 to progress their plans and a total of £320 million is to be made available over five years. The government suggested this would lead to the creation of up to 200 heat networks, which have the potential to reduce the cost of heating by as much as 30%.
Clean, Secure, Affordable Energy
“This government is committed to ensuring a clean, secure and affordable energy supply for communities and businesses across the country,” said climate change and industry minister Nick Hurd. “Energy innovations like heat networks can cut costs for households and reduce carbon emissions, as almost half of the energy we use goes towards heating our homes and buildings.”
Heat Roadmap Europe, a collaborative project led by universities, recently produced a tool that identifies demand, efficiency and supply of heating and cooling in Europe. Governments and local authorities can use interactive maps to identify where district heating projects would be most effective in helping them cut carbon emissions.
“For years, power plants, industry, and waste incinerators all across Europe have been throwing away enormous quantities of heat and, for the most part, this has gone unnoticed,” said project coordinator David Connolly.
A true understanding of these hotspots and ways to manage them will help secure funding, reduce costs and slash carbon emissions. For more information on district heating projects and how we can help, contact 361 Degrees.
