Half of homes should have heat pumps by 2040 • London universities set to decarbonise their joint district heating • Green Heat Network Fund awards a further £34 million to new projects • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from the UK
The United Kingdom is by law required to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has strongly advised the UK government that heat pumps will be crucial to achieving this goal. Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the CCC insisted that the UK government should act in order to make heat pumps more cost effective in comparison to fossil fuel boilers.
The CCC provides independent advice on how much the UK should emit over five-year periods, known as carbon budgets and how it may achieve this.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the government would consider the advice and respond in due course. He maintained that the UK government are strongly committed to their net zero commitments adding ‘we owe it to current generations to seize the opportunities for energy security and lower bills, and we owe it to future generations to tackle the existential climate crisis’.
Read more in article by Reuters
University College London (UCL), the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and the University of London (UoL) are taking a major step towards decarbonizing their shared district heating system, the Bloomsbury Heat and Power Network (BHPN). As part of this initiative, air-source heat pumps and electric boilers will be installed, replacing ageing infrastructure and reducing reliance on gas and oil.
The project is being carried out by the Bloomsbury Heat and Power Consortium, which oversees the network and works to improve efficiency and sustainability while cutting fuel costs. Currently, the system includes gas-fueled combined heat and power engineers, but with parts of the network reaching the end of their lifespan, the universities are seizing upon the opportunity to implement zero-carbon solutions.
During peak winter demand, gas boilers will still be used, but as energy efficiency improves, they are expected to be phased out over time. This move aligns with UCL’s broader sustainability strategy, which aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Since 2018/19, UCL has already cut emissions from heat and powering the campus by 56%. This process is forecast to contribute an additional 1.5% towards its overall net-zero target.
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) has awarded an additional £34 million to four low-carbon heat network projects, further advancing the UK’s sustainable heating transition. This latest funding brings the total GHNF investment to over £380 million, supporting innovative projects in Leeds, London, Maidstone, and Cranbrook.
In Leeds, SSE Energy Solutions has secured £19.5 million to develop the Aire Valley Heat and Power Network, a project designed to supply businesses with low-carbon heating and electricity using waste heat from the Skelton Grange Energy Recovery Facility.
As mentioned above, London’s Bloomsbury Energy Network will receive £7.2 million to upgrade an 80-year-old heating system with air source heat pumps, significantly reducing emissions for University College London (UCL), SOAS, and other institutions.
Maidstone’s new heat network has been granted £782,500 to harness waste heat from an existing energy recovery facility, supporting public and commercial buildings.
Meanwhile, East Devon District Council will receive £6.95 million to expand the Cranbrook heat network, providing sustainable heating to 4,500 new homes and commercial spaces.
Read more in article from FCC Environment
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