New Partnership Commissioned to Accelerate Roll-Out of National Heat Network Needed to Meet Net Zero Goals

Wedoany.com Report-Nov 20,  A new partnership has been appointed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to deliver progress under the Heat Network Zoning Consultancy Framework.

Global engineering and sustainability development consultancy Arup will be working with its partner, the national mapping service Ordnance Survey (OS), to deliver technical and consulting services around the identification and development of heat network zones in England.

Heat networks are one of the most cost-effective ways of providing secure, reliable and affordable heat. They use insulated underground pipes to carry heat from centralised sources to customers – such as homes, hospitals or schools.

Heat network zoning is designed to transform the development of new heat networks by designating geographic zones so that local authorities and heat network developers can swiftly identify where new large-scale strategic heat networks should be constructed.

This strategic approach will enhance the efficiency of the heat network development process, providing a framework to help streamline and target the multi-billion-pound investment needed to deliver heat networks on the scale required to meet the UK’s net-zero goals. It will move the heat network programme from policy planning to large scale implementation, supporting and facilitating the development of new networks.

Heat network zones could play a critical role in accelerating Britian’s net zero ambitions. Currently, they provide about 3% of total UK heat. Government analysis shows that heat networks zones could provide up to 20% of resilient low carbon UK heat by 2050.

Arup and OS together provide trusted and authoritative data, digital and energy modelling services to support the assurance processes around the underlying zoning model.

The organisations will collaborate to build on the Framework’s valuable contributions to the DESNZ Zoning pilot project, Heat Network Zoning Transition, Advance Zoning, and City Decarbonisation Delivery programmes.

Stephen Cook, Director, Urban Energy, at Arup, commented: “Heat network zoning will drive the development of low carbon heat networks at speed and scale across England. Since 2021, Arup and other partners have been working closely with the DESNZ to assess options and develop the design for how heat network zoning could work in practice.

“This new appointment will allow Arup and our partners to help DESNZ pivot from policy design to policy implementation, supporting the formation the new zoning body organisations, equipping them with the tools and capabilities they need to succeed, and driving forward the development of strategic heat network zone projects.”

John Kimmance, Chief Customer Officer at OS, said: “OS’s trusted and authoritative data has already supported many energy, utility and telecoms companies in connecting millions of homes across the country and managing assets going forward. We are therefore delighted to be part of this new consultancy framework and proud to be partnering with the two leading domain experts in this space.

“The collaboration with Arup and CSE puts our geospatial insight and expertise right at the heart of the UK’s long-term net zero goals. We very much hope the new framework will be responsible for a significant increase in the uptake of Heat Network Zones, one of the Government’s strategic sustainable energy initiatives.”