Today I visited Lib Dem controlled Sutton to announce £2 million of DECC funding for developing low carbon local heat networks. The money will go to 26 local authorities – including Sutton – to develop their own local projects.
By 2030 around 14% of UK heat demand could be met by these networks and around 43% by 2050. While it is up to each local authority to develop their own projects, the idea is that networks source heat from a central source – for example landfill – and then deliver it through insulated pipes to offices, apartments and social housing.
This will provide low carbon heating, and potentially bring down energy bills too.
There is a total pot of grant funding worth £7 million available, and the remainder will be allocated through further rounds running until March 2015. The second round of successful bids will be announced in March 2014. So, local authorities interested in finding out more and putting in a bid should click here.
* Ed Davey is the MP for Kingston & Surbiton and Leader of the Liberal Democrats
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7 Comments
Interesting. But spread over 26 local authorities this funding averages only £73,000 per authority. How is this going to make any substantial impact on district heating implementation? Also what exactly is DECC policy on district heating given that the April 2009 Poyry report to DECC (http://www.flexenergy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1467-potential-costs-district-heating-network.pdf) showed that under current market conditions, even allowing for CO2 emission reductions, take up is likely to increase district heating by only 0.3% of national heat demand due to the high capital cost of pipeline networks etc?
Good stuff!
@Geoff – The funding isn’t for implementation, from the page Ed links to:
“HNDU funding will meet 67% of the estimated eligible external costs of heat mapping, associated master planning, developing technical proposals, financial evaluations, appropriate governance procedures and processes, project management and any other agreed appropriate works to allow the preparation of investment documents, business plans, financial models etc. which facilitate the installation of new heat networks and the improvement and/or expansion of existing heat networks. Local authorities will be required to provide the other 33% of funding.”
But the funding isn’t for developing district heat networks. It’s for funding 2/3 of preparing an investment prospectus for someone to invest in developing dhns. Not the same thing. Perhaps Ed doesn’t see the difference?
Jenny Barnes 30th Jan ’14 – 7:39pm
But the funding isn’t for developing district heat networks. It’s for funding 2/3 of preparing an investment prospectus for someone to invest in developing dhns. Not the same thing. Perhaps Ed doesn’t see the difference?
Jenny, are you suggesting that this Secretary of State is more interested in a quick and cheap press gimmick rather than being too bothered about the facts? Surely not!
John “are you suggesting that this Secretary of State is more interested in a quick and cheap press gimmick rather than being too bothered about the facts?”
You may think that, but I couldn’t possibly comment. 🙂
Clearly on the same wavelength, as a recent private planning appeal contained a similar proposal using horse manure where there are Equestrian facilities. Not only would it produce heat but also is bio degradable and reusable in locality. Funny enough its not to far and same LA to where a proposed/potential land fill may be on the cards…!!!