- 55 heat network projects to receive £13.9 million of
government funding
- Thousands of consumers will benefit from upgrades to old,
inefficient heat networks
- Funding will help to reduce bills, improve reliability and
prevent breakdowns
Thousands of homes and businesses on old and inefficient heat
networks will benefit from lower bills and a more reliable
heating supply thanks to government funding, announced today
(Tuesday 26 September).
Customers in more than 4,000 homes will see poorly performing
heat networks improved, meaning fewer breakdowns where people can
be left without heating and hot water.
Twenty-four projects across England will receive a share of more
than £13.2 million, while a further £667,000 will go to 31
projects to fund investigations into the improvements needed to
ensure customers receive a reliable service, with heat network
operators taking the required action.
The funding announced today is the first round of awards to be
made under the £32 million Heat Network Efficiency Scheme.
, Minister for Energy
Efficiency and Green Finance, said:
Families and businesses shouldn’t have to worry about whether
they will receive a reliable heating and hot water supply.
This funding means improvements will be made to old and
inefficient heat networks, preventing further breakdowns and
ensuring they use less energy.
We’re investing millions to build new heat networks, reducing
emissions and providing low-cost heating to communities across
the country. But it’s equally important we upgrade and maintain
existing systems so everyone benefits.
Heat networks offer carbon emissions savings by supplying heat to
buildings from a central source, avoiding the need for households
and workplaces to rely on individual, energy-intensive heating
solutions - such as gas boilers. As such, heat networks provide a
significant contribution to the UK’s carbon reduction commitment.
But some heat networks haven’t been upgraded since they were
installed more than 40 years ago, meaning many are inefficient
due to not being installed properly, poorly maintained or the
equipment wearing out.
The Heat Network Efficiency
Scheme (HNES), which opened
in February this year, forms an important part of the
government’s support for heat networks. This also includes the
£288 million Green Heat Network Fund, which supports the creation
of heat network projects that use a low carbon heating source,
such as a heat pump, solar or geothermal energy, to provide heat
and hot water to connected homes and businesses.
Projects to receive funding today include:
- Leeds City Council, which will receive more than £2.2 million
to improve the efficiency of heat networks serving 837 residents
through improving insulation levels, reducing heat losses and
leakages
- Great Places Housing Association, which has been awarded more
than £1.6 million to improve the efficiency of the Richmond Park
heat network in Sheffield, serving 299 residents. The funding
will seek to correct high heat loss issues, bad insulation and
old equipment
- The Guinness Partnership, which has been awarded £2 million
for the improvement of four heat networks serving almost 700
residents across sites in Aylesbury, Stockport, Gloucester, and
Brixton. The funding will go towards reducing heat network costs
and heat losses, improving insulation, and replacing outdated
infrastructure
Last month, government launched a consultation to shape and
improve the future of heat networks.
Under the proposals, homes and businesses supplied by heat
networks would receive greater consumer protections currently
only afforded to those on traditional gas and electricity
contracts.
This would ensure fairer prices through their inclusion in a
potential future price cap on energy bills, consistent standards
for quality of service and supply of heat, backed up with regular
and clear bills.
Notes to editors
See a full
list of successful projects.
The regional breakdown of funding awards is:
- East Midlands - £96,000
- East of England - £59,976
- London - £5,419,244
- North East - £16,000
- North West - £3,483,412
- South East - £159,543
- South West - £740,743
- West Midlands - £62,443
- Yorkshire and the Humber - £3,898,464
The Heat Networks Consumer
Protection consultation can be found on GOV.UK and will
be live until 27 October 2023.
