Millions awarded to improve efficiency of existing district heating for local authorities, housing associations and private sector.
A total of £13.7m has been awarded to improve the efficiency of existing district and communal heat networks, serving over 11,000 residents.
According to the government’s delivery partner Gemserv, the HNES aims to improve heat network performance in operational projects where customers and/or operators are ‘experiencing sub-optimal outcomes’.
The group said: “HNES supports heat network consumers impacted by the cost-of-living crisis by enhancing efficiency and combating poorly performing networks… The first three funding rounds have proven incredibly popular, and we anticipate that future rounds will be very competitive.”
Lord Callanan, 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.
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, he said.
The fund follows the £288m 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.
Louise Singleton, Principal Consultant at Gemserv, added:
Today’s announcement shows the substantial impact that HNES will have on the efficiency of heat networks across the country. Funding from the scheme today will play a huge part in improving the efficiency and lowering the costs of domestic heating for thousands of residents and businesses.
HNES recipients
Notting Hill Genesis has been awarded over £3.6m for improving the efficiency of heat networks that serve over 800 residents. Building on optimisation studies funded through the HNES Demonstrator, the Glyn Street, Windmill Park, St Pancras Way and Factory Quarter Estate projects will use their capital funding to replace HIUs and pipework, install more efficient control systems and insulation, and for other general efficiency improvements.
Southern Housing, which serves more than 78,000 homes across London, the South East, the Isle of Wight and the Midlands has been awarded over £176,000 to improve a heat network serving homes on Dagenham Heathway & Church Elm Lane Dagenham, Essex. Additional insulation, new HIUs and other improvements will be installed using funding from HNES which will create a more efficient heat network and as a result a reduction in resident bills and the buildings carbon footprint.
Great Places Housing Association, which has 25,000 homes across the North West, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, has been awarded over £1.6m to improve the efficiency of its Richmond Park heat network, serving 299 residents across the development. Drawing on the recommendations from their HNES Demonstrator funded optimisation study, capital funding will seek to remedy high heat loss issues, bad insulation and old equipment.
The Guinness Partnership, which has over 140,000 customers across the country, has been awarded £2m for the improvement of four heat networks serving almost 700 residents. Taking learnings from HNES Demonstrator optimisation studies at Whitfield Street and Loughborough Park, these heat networks alongside Bearbrook Place and Edgeley will utilise funding to reduce heat network costs and heat losses, improve insulation and replace outdated infrastructure.
Leeds City Council has been awarded over £2.2m to improve the efficiency of heat networks serving 837 residents across the borough. Using the recommendations from their HNES Demonstrator funded optimisation studies, Cottingley Heights & Towers, Ebor Gardens and Saxton Gardens will use HNES capital funding from the first round to improve their heat networks’ efficiency through improving insulation levels, reducing heat losses and leakages and for additional improvements.
The London Borough of Hackney will receive over £114,000 to improve the efficiency of two heat networks serving 64 residents at their Daniell House and Heathcote Point developments. Currently, the networks are operating at extremely low efficiencies and funding will seek to improve this through the installation of heat interface units, radiator valves and other improvements that were identified in their HNES Demonstrator funded optimisation studies.
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has been awarded over £1.8m to improve the efficiency of the York Street Heat Network which currently serves 227 residents. As recommended in their HNES Demonstrator funded optimisation study, the pipework will be replaced, along with other pieces of outdated infrastructure and the heating systems within the resident’s properties will be updated.
Switch2, delivering heat network solutions across public, private and third sector developers, has been awarded over £822,000 to improve a heat network serving 319 residents across the City House development. Funding has been provided to address high heat losses, low efficiency levels and service interruptions through implementing a new control and maintenance strategy as well as insulating large parts of the network.
Metropolitan, a leading heat network owner and operator, has been awarded £300,000 to improve the Hallsville Quarters heat network which currently serves 528 residents with a further 630 homes being connected during 2023. The funding will seek to reduce heat losses and high return temperatures through insulation, control improvements and other upgrades.
Barings Core Fund Keel Operating Ltd has been awarded over £307,000 to improve The Keel development serving 240 residents. The funding was awarded to help reduce the heat network’s heat losses and high return temperatures as well as general unreliability. This will be done through general improvements and infrastructure updates, as recommended in their HNES Demonstrator funded optimisation study.
Avignon Property Management
Avignon Property Management has been awarded over £23,000 to improve the Guildhall Apartments low temperature hot water system. Funding will address inadequate heat supply to residents and flow imbalances.
Revenue Grant Funding
Projects across the country have also been awarded over £640,000 worth of funding for optimisation studies to review the performance of their heat networks, identifying areas of improvement to ensure high performance and maximum efficiency. This funding will contribute to improving the efficiency levels of heat networks serving over 7,000 residents.
Gemserv will be amongst the panelists in elemental’s District Heating Festival in November. More details and free registration at: elementaldigital.co.uk/events/
