The Green Heat Networks Fund is allocated £270 million in funding to support projects using low-carbon technologies like heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy • A new joint venture has been launched by the gas distribution company SGN and renewable energy solutions provider Vital Energi to develop zero-carbon heat networks • SSE Energy Solutions and National Grid unveils new project to capture waste heat from electricity transformers • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from the UK
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced funding of £270 million through the Green Heat Networks Fund (GHNF), intended to replace the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) in 2022. The GHNF will only support low-carbon technologies like heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy in the roll out of the next generation of heat networks.
Compared to HNIP, the GHNF will go even further in its requirements on eligible applications, only funding projects including low-carbon heat-generating technologies, such as heat pumps, waste heat and energy from geothermal sources.
The Green Heat Network Fund is expected to fund the delivery of an estimated 10.3Mt of total carbon savings by 2050 or the equivalent of taking 4.5 million cars in England off the road for a year.
Read more on the UK government’s website here
Read more in article by E&T here
The gas distribution company SGN and the renewable energy solutions provider Vital Energi have launched a joint venture to set up an energy services company (ESCO) that will build, own and operate zero-carbon heat networks in Scotland and England. The ESCO will supply infrastructure enabling low-carbon heating for SGN’s existing portfolio of land, including planned developments by SGN’s property arm SGN Place.
The venture will enable SGN to complement its core gas distribution business with alternative heating solutions and to gain a strong position in the expanding district heating space. For Vital Energi, the venture will let them expand into asset ownership, complementing their core activities of designing, building and operating low-carbon heating systems. The combined skillsets of the two companies will offer a valuable proposition in the provision of low-carbon heat solutions.
Read more in article by Edie here
Read more in article by the ADE here
The new project aims to decarbonise heat networks by capturing waste heat from electricity transformers which can be used to heat homes and businesses. The project is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by more than 40% compared to the current setup with gas-based systems. When waste heat is captured from electricity transformers powered by renewable technology, such as wind farms, this further contributes to a net-zero scenario.
National Grid has a network of transformers across England and Wales, where waste heat can be captured and distributed to towns and cities utilising SSE’s heat networks. It is estimated that the project could reduce carbon emissions by millions of tonnes yearly if roll-out takes place across the whole National Grid network.
Read more in article by Renews here
Read more in article by Edie here
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