The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has revealed that four heating projects will receive a share of £80.6 million from its Green Heat Network fund, including a Bolton-based scheme that could see nearly 2,000 homes and businesses heated with sewer power.
The investments forms a major part of the country’s carbon reduction commitment as heating in buildings make up 30% of the UK’s emissions
Minister for energy efficiency and green finance Lord Callanan said: “These innovative projects will help drive down energy costs while also demonstrating why the UK has led the way in cutting carbon emissions.
“They show how energy sources can be found in the most unexpected places – as more homes and businesses will benefit from cleaner heating and lower energy bills.”
Backed by £11 million from the government, the Bolton-based project will involve extracting waste heat from both sewage and waste hot water from washing machines, bathrooms and kitchens in the area to fuel a new heat pump, as part of the town’s first district heating network in a bid to keep bills low.
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Receiving £42.5 million – the largest portion of green heating funding – is Exeter Energy Network, which will work to build a heat network using air-source heat pumps and the UK’s largest high-temperature water source heat pump.
If successful, buildings connected to the network will see an initial reduction of 65 to 75% in carbon emissions compared to gas heating.
Hull East District Heat Network was awarded £22 million from the fund to build a heat network using excess heat generated by a nearby chemicals park, providing low-carbon heating to 14 public sector council buildings and industrial businesses.
The final green heating project to receive funding is the Greenwich Peninsula ESCO District Heating Network in London, which will use its £4.6 million grant to connect over 9,000 existing and new homes, as well as over 94,000 square metres of commercial space to low-carbon heating powered by an air source heat pump fixed on the roof of the Greenwich Peninsula Energy Centre.
