For those involved in the design and implementation of heat networks and district
heating, it’s useful to have oversight of what projects are happening across England
and Wales. Each quarter, The UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and
Net Zero publishes the Heat Networks Pipeline, outlining key details of the project as
well as procurement status, contact details, and the services involved in upcoming
procurement exercises. This information is also vitally important in showcasing the
scale of the opportunity presented by heat networks, to potential investors.
The growth of heat networks is a crucial part of decarbonising heat here in the UK. It
works as a communal solution that provides heat to a range of buildings, both
residential and commercial, and significantly reduces the use of fossil fuels in heat
generation. The UK Government’s Heat Network Transformation Programme
(HNTP) works with the wider industry, as well as local authorities, to develop new
heat networks and improve those already in existence. As part of this, the HNTP has
committed over half a billion pounds of investment into funds, projects and
programmes; including many of the projects listed in the pipeline.
On top of this, the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is investing millions of capital
grant funding into the creation of new low and zero carbon heat networks,
nationwide.
The aim of these published pipelines is to create a level of transparency around the
various projects across England and Wales, involving heat networks. By doing this,
the appropriate skill providers, throughout the supply chain, can access information
about upcoming projects and their procurement, whilst raising awareness of the
overarching opportunity that Heat Networks present.
If you’re involved in District Energy – these quarterly updates are well worth a read.
The most recent Quarterly issue of the Heat Networks Pipeline has just recently
been released, covering the period from April – June 2024. You can access it here.
