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They can even combine multiple, renewable heat sources including air, water, or waste heat from the surrounding built environment. Meanwhile, obsolete or uneconomic equipment can be replaced without disrupting services or stranding assets. This adaptability enables organisations
to align their energy strategy with policy shifts, funding cycles or technical innovations. As such, it’s a hallmark of responsible investing, ensuring that every value and measurable carbon savings. Fuel-free Traditionally powered by large gas or biomass boilers, modern heat networks are now increasingly designed around heat pumps. These capture and repurpose renewable heat from the air, or in some cases from the ground, rivers or lakes, to provide heating, cooling and hot water A striking example of this approach can in Barnet, North London. The scheme uses a communal heat network powered by twelve 42kW air source heat pumps (ASHPs) delivering heating around three Because heat pumps transfer heat rather than generating it through combustion, every kWh of energy they use to function, compared to less than one kWh for a boiler. And, unlike boilers, they can be combined with thermal stores to retain heat for periods of peak demand, making According to the Carbon Trust, replacing
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Heat networks are not new, but their evolution is gathering speed, driven by government policy. Serving multiple buildings from a single heat source, heating solution for urban centres. Zones are being mapped in major cities across England within which new housing developments and large public buildings must connect to one. Adaptable One major strength of heat networks is that they’re inherently upgradable and therefore resilient. They’re not locked into one heat source and can integrate new, cleaner technologies as they emerge.
a gas boiler with a heat pump can cut carbon emissions by around 60%. Furthermore, because heat pumps are powered by electricity, their carbon performance automatically improves over time as the national grid continues to decarbonise and the cost of sustainably generated energy reduces. Meeting current and future standards For public sector organisations planning projects, heat networks powered by heat gas boilers when it comes to obtaining authorities now require. This is particularly true in the capital,
now prioritise both heat networks and heat pumps. The London Plan aims to is generated locally by the end of this year. It aligns with the requirements of the government’s national Future Homes Standard, which will ban gas boilers in new homes from 2027. networks refers to another exciting new development in the sector, namely ambient loop systems. Instead of from a centralised heat source, these networks circulate water at much lower Small, individual ASHPs in each dwelling then upgrade this ambient heat to meet demands. This approach dramatically reduces
heat losses across the network and cuts installation costs by removing the need for often be retained, and new homes can be added to the loop without the need to upgrade a centralised heat source, ensuring scalability. And, with outdoor ASHPs mountable on walls or roofs, even dense urban estates can participate Technical compliance and training With all this innovation comes regulation. The forthcoming Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme, due in 2026, will introduce lifecycle standards for design, installation, operation, and metering. Smart meters will be mandatory, requiring consideration of space, access and data Housing providers should be preparing for these changes now. Equally important is the skills challenge.
technical expertise. Training programmes Technician and Level 4 Building Services Technician apprenticeships are beginning to close this gap. Although they generally take three years to complete, we’re engineers in order to speed up an injection of expertise and talent into the workforce. Similar training and accreditation schemes are needed across the industry if the UK is to realise the promise of this practical pathway to decarbonisation.
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