Scotland publishes Heat Networks Bill, the Swedish city Malmö will be heated by 7 km deep wells, holistic thinking imbues new Sweco team, and will you get the chance to win EUR 1 million? Even if dealing with Covid-19 has become priority of many in late March, there have still been many news within the world of heating.
The COP26 UN climate change conference set to take place in Glasgow in November has been postponed due to COVID-19. The conference appears to still be planned to go ahead, but currently looking for new dates in 2021. COP26 is viewed as an important stepping stone to assemble the nations to act on climate change, as well as an opportunity for the United Kingdom to potentially show the way moving forward.
Read more in press release by UK Gov >
The city of Liège is investing in a new eco-quarter which will be heated by a local district heating network. An investment valued to EUR 330 million will generate 1,320 new accommodations and 60,000 sq.m. of commercial facilities. The local district heating network will be supplied by waste heat from the nearby Uvelia factory. Preparatory works are expected to start early 2021.
Read more in article from DHC News (in French) >
On 3 March, the Scottish Government released the new Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill, which will introduce regulation and a licensing system for district heating networks. Scotland would be the first country in the UK to regulate district heating.
Read more in article from SHC by Sweden >
Read more in press release by Scottish Government >
Read the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill first hand >
E.On is planning a deep-heat geothermal plant in the Swedish city Malmö, with wells going as deep as five to seven kilometres. E.On plans to have five geothermal plants by 2028, each with an installed capacity of 50 thermal megawatt (MWth).
Read more in article from Think Geoenergy >
Read more in article from Recharge News >
Warwick District Council, which has previously declared climate emergency, will hold a climate tax referendum on 7 May. If the tax referendum is voted through, the Council is hoping to see approximately £3 million annually to support the local green transition.
Read more in article from Leamington Observer >
Warrington will see a Smart Local Energy System (SLES) being designed, following the awarded funds to the Rewire-NW project by UKRI. Heat networks will be a key part of the two-year project, which will look to replicate any success to Cheshire and beyond post-project.
Read more in article from 24 Housing >
IDEX has won a tender to cool and heat a cluster of 18 buildings in the Annecy area, by drawing water from the Annecy lake at 20 m beneath the surface where the temperature remains stable at 7 degrees throughout the year. Gas boilers will be added to the heating and cooling system in case of operational setbacks. The value of the investments amount to 5.7 MEUR, out of which 1.7 is financed by governmental subsidies managed by the French Energy Agency, ADEME. The heating and cooling network is expected to be operational in autumn 2021.
Read more in IDEX press release (in French) >
In order to incentivise measures to reach climate targets by 2050 and to facilitate the future development of district heating networks in the UK – City Councils, buildings and heat network developers need to come together in a Fairopoly, at least that is what Dave Pearson from Star Renewable Energy prompts.
Read more in article from Yahoo Finance >
Read more on the Fairopoly concept website >
As a first in the world, the Bunhill 2 Energy Centre in the London Borough of Islington, recovers waste heat from the city underground metro system – showcasing the potential for other dense cities struggling in finding space and finances to connect sustainable heat sources. The London Underground is already providing heat and hot water for 1,350 homes, a school and two leisure centres.
Read more in article from Celsius City >
Read more in press release by Islington Council >
Read more in the blog from Ian Visits (image source) >
Cities are facing many challenges in the energy transition, and Celsius City’s initiative ‘Forerunner Groups’ brings cities facing similar challenges together with the hope of addressing the problems and aim to replicate successful projects.
Read more on Celsius webpage >
Reach out to us if you have any questions >
Aberdeen Councillors have announced that they will invest £100 million, as part of the council budget, to address the city’s decarbonisation. As part of the investment, £15 million will go to the heat network in Torry and £7.7 million to replacing heat systems to reduce heat losses.
Read more in article from Evening Express >
Sweco, which employs more than 1,400 people across the UK and Ireland, has launched their Urban Energy Team. The newly launched team is cross-disciplinary, which we find is exactly what is needed for cities facing today’s challenges – having a holistic view while maintaining specialist expertise.
Read more about the launch in article from Scottish Construction Now >
“Climate change is a global crisis that will not be solved through quick fixes. With the Helsinki Energy Challenge we are seeking new innovative solutions, even if it would mean significant changes to our existing system. We invite innovators from all around the world to use Helsinki as a testbed for truly sustainable solutions for urban heating. Taking this next step might lead to a revolutionary breakthrough in our fight for a more sustainable city life.” – Mayor of Helsinki, Mr. Jan Vapaavuori
Read more on the challenge website >
In the recently announced budget, Treasury has committed £270 million to a Green Heat Networks Scheme, and extended the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) until 2022, with £96 million confirmed for this year. This new fund will be accessible from 2022 until 2025, and will support the deployment of low carbon existing and new heat networks, in particular focusing on waste heat and other low carbon sources of heat.
Read more in article from The Guardian >
Read more directly from UK Gov’s budget summary >
La Compagnie de Chauffage de Grenoble (CCIAG), the local district heating company in the city of Grenoble, inaugurates its biggest CHP biomass power plant to date. The plant is called Biomax and will generate heating and electricity to 20,000 and 10,000 households respectively. Using locally sourced wood only, the city of Grenoble considers the investment as another important step to reach its long-term objective of removing fossil energy from its energy mix.
Watch video about Biomax biomass plant (in French) >
Read more about the project (in French) >
Veolia’s Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) in Leeds is now connected to the new city district heating network, providing heat from unrecyclable waste. The facility will supply heat to almost 2,000 homes.
Read more in article from Business Green >
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH) has appointed Switch2 Energy as ESCo partner to deliver a low carbon heat network for its new former Shredded Wheat Factory South Site housing development in the London urban satellite of Welwyn Garden City.
Read more in article from the ADE >
Worthing has pledged to work towards climate neutrality by 2030, while 42% of the carbon emissions stem from the heating of the borough’s council buildings. The council has secured funding to explore the potential of a district heating network for the Civic Quarter.
Read more in article from the Worthing Herald >
With a district in mind, the Highland Council is planning to utilise the Scottish Government’s new Heat Networks Early Adopters Challenge Fund to look at installing district heating systems. “Heat networks are coming. There is no reason for us to wait.” – Councillor Denis Rixson, Highland Council
Read more in article from Press and Journal >
The third largest district heating operator in France, IDEX, acquires two French SMEs to reinforce its services capabilities as well as its’ geographical footprint in France. The two companies called Ampéris and Cisénergie cover Southern and Central France.
Read more in press release for Ampéris acquisition (in French) >
Read more in press release for Cisénergie acquisition (in French) >
According to the BBC, 12 million homes in the UK are below the C grade on EPCs. In order to meet climate targets, home standards need to be improved while using low carbon energy to heat and power the homes.
Read more in article from BBC >
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Sweden is at the forefront of decentralised heat networks technology. Our aim for “Sustainable Heating & Cooling by Sweden” is to facilitate knowledge sharing between British and Swedish stakeholders and develop and encourage environmental and economic best practice.
To find out how we can help you and your organisation, please contact our London-based “SHC” team. We can introduce you to leading consultants, suppliers of technology and services who will be pleased to share know-how of the development of heat network solutions.
