The market engagement sessions will be of particular interest to heat network developers, supply chain businesses, investors and professional services organisations.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is working with the 19 towns and cities which will be officially designated as heat network zones once new zoning legislation comes into place in 2025.
Called the ‘Advanced Zoning Programme’, the aim is to have at least 10 heat network zones, worth £500m, under construction by December 2026.
Areas involved include Birmingham, Bristol, City of London, Coventry, East London Energy (Olympic Park), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Bolton, Stockport and Oldham), Leeds, Liverpool, Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, Islington, Southwark, Newcastle, Nottingham, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, Plymouth, Sheffield, Stoke and Westminster.
DESNZ is hosting a series of market engagement webinars, the first of which will take place in September and October, to share information about the opportunities coming to market and the anticipated procurement timescales.
Webinar dates
Monday, September 9 (1pm-2pm)
The first webinar will raise awareness about the Advanced Zoning Programme and showcase the initial projects.
Representatives from Leeds and Plymouth, whose projects are due to come to market first, will share anticipated timeframes for the year and a departmental update on delivery approaches. There will also be an opportunity to submit questions which will be responded to in the October webinar. To attend this webinar, people must register in advance.
Tuesday, October 22 (3pm-4pm)
This session will build on the first webinar, providing an opportunity to update attendees on progress to date, hear from more cities about specific projects, as well as anticipated timeframes, and respond to questions raised in the first webinar. There will also be a chance to submit questions which will be responded to in the next webinar. Register here to attend.
About heat network zoning
Heat networks are an essential part of the path towards decarbonising heat, enhancing energy security and achieving net zero by 2050. They currently provide about three per cent of total UK heat. It is anticipated that heat networks could provide up to 20 per cent of total UK heat by 2050.
The Energy Act 2023 establishes the regulatory framework for heat networks in Great Britain and provides powers to introduce heat network zoning in England through secondary legislation.
Heat network zoning involves central and local government working together with industry and local stakeholders to identify and designate areas of England where heat networks are expected to be the lowest cost solution to decarbonising heat.
Heat network zoning will significantly increase private sector investment by removing the barriers which currently limit the pace of developing large scale heat networks.
It will give local communities the tools to accelerate the development of heat networks in their areas and ensure that more homes and businesses can have access to greener, cheaper heat. It also has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs across the country.
You can read more about heat networks and how they work in this article which featured in the July issue of Renewable Energy Installer & Specifier magazine.
Image credit: DESNZ