49 district and communal heat networks in England and Wales receive £7 million in funding from the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES).
The investment will provide heating to over 11,300 residents, and for hospitals, charities, universities, and religious buildings, Gemserv – the company responsible for delivering HNES – says.
The HNES is entering its third year of supporting low-income households and public sector buildings to create more efficient heating systems.
Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, HNES can provide up to, but not including, 50% of the total estimated eligible project costs for capital grant applications, and up to 100% of the estimated eligible project costs for revenue (Optimisation Study) grant applications.
Capital grant funding will go directly towards the capital works to improve the efficiency of existing heat networks.
In the latest round of funding, 10 projects will receive a share of over £6.1 million, benefitting 1,945 residents. Capital projects in this round will result in 48,500 tonnes of carbon savings per year, Gemserv says.
It is great to see the fruits of another successful funding round…
The London Borough of Camden has secured nearly £1 million through HNES to enhance the Mayford Estate’s communal heating system, which encompasses 184 residents.
This funding will support the upgrade of the secondary network by replacing outdated pipework and insulation, modernising plant room equipment, and installing new Heat Interface Units (HIUs) and thermostats.
The City Park West heat network in Central Chelmsford is set to receive over £1.3 million to improve the performance of a heat network serving 645 residents.
The project includes replacing outdated infrastructure, improving insulation, and recommissioning the plant room and substations.
Ballymore (Hayes) Limited is being awarded £1.4 million of HNES support to improve the performance and efficiency of the communal heat network serving 578 dwellings at High Point Village.
The funding will support the replacement of legacy heat interface units (HIUs) in 497 private and shared ownership homes. In the remaining 106 affordable homes, newly installed HIUs will be fully commissioned and integrated into the network.
Samantha Shea, Programme Manager for HNES at Gemserv, commented: “Improving existing heat network infrastructure is just as important as building new low carbon heat networks as we decarbonise domestic energy consumption.
“HNES is playing a key role in ensuring consumers have confidence in the heat network technology that will provide more sustainable heating to homes and buildings as part of our road to Net Zero.
“It is great to see the fruits of another successful funding round, and we are excited to see the outcome of this vital investment in our existing heat network arsenal.”
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