NET ZERO


Without a clear long- term heat strategy, decarbonisation risks becoming reactive – responding to funding opportunities rather than following a coherent plan.


Plumber at work installing a circulation heat pump.


Rob Hilliard


good engineering decisions. They reduce contingency, improve sizing accuracy and build confidence in both capital and operational performance. Investing in data early often pays for itself many times


over by avoiding over-engineering and unnecessary complexity.


A practical way forward For trusts wrestling with how to start, the message is deliberately pragmatic. “This isn’t about ripping everything out tomorrow,” Yates


says. “It’s about preparing the ground.” That preparation might include:


n testing and reducing flow temperatures where possible


n targeting low-cost efficiency measures that improve control and reduce demand


n aligning decarbonisation plans with critical backlog replacement


n investing in data and metering to inform future decisions n developing a clear long-term heat strategy that reflects how the estate will evolve.


When approached this way, decarbonisation stops being an added burden and becomes a route to a more resilient, affordable and future-ready estate. “The question now isn’t whether low-carbon heat can work,” Yates concludes. “It’s whether we’re setting our estates up to let it succeed.”


Robert Hilliard is a senior development engineering manager at Vital Energi Utilities Limited, specialising in low-carbon energy solutions. He has extensive experience in designing and delivering complex heat and power infrastructure projects, supporting public and private sector clients in their transition to Net Zero.


May 2026 Health Estate Journal 45


AdobeStock / JPC-PROD


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