heat networks
DESCRIPTION
This is an article from the Summer 2014 edition of EUA's member magazine OUTPUT.TRANSCRIPT
DevelopingHeatNetworksMost buildings in the UK rely on a localsource for their heating and hot water;homes commonly have their own gasboilers, for example. Heat networks, oftenreferred to as district heating schemes,operate differently. They supply heat froma central source directly to homes andbusinesses through a network of pipescarrying hot water. This means thatindividual homes and business do notneed to generate their own heat on site.Increasingly networks are also being usedto provide cooling in a similar way, eitherthrough on-site, or centralised, absorptionchillers. This brings numerous benefitsincluding:
lEfficient transportation and use ofheat for a wide variety of userslA broad range of energygeneration technologies can worktogether to meet demand for heatlFuel flexibilitylManaged supply and demand ofenergylLowered costs of energygeneration
l Increased fuel efficiency throughuse of CHP
lReduced labour and maintenancecost as compared to individualsystems
These in turn deliver a range of beneficialoutcomes.
Modern technology allows for advancedheating controls in buildings or parts of
buildings served by heat networksjust as in homes powered by gasboilers. Heat networks can take,
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 F E A T U R EO U T P U T
and deliver, heat from a wide variety ofsources. These heat sources can includededicated central boiler plant, water, air orground source heat pumps, heat fromcombined heat and power generationsystems, waste to energy plants andrecovered heat from industrial processes.By centralising heat supply anddistribution, heat networks can be moreenergy efficient, deliver carbon savingsand help to reduce fuel bills.
EUA HeatNetworksGroupIn late 2013, EUA organised a meetingwith HHIC, ICOM and Utility Networksmember companies interested in HeatNetworks. DECC attended too, giving apresentation and update, and the meetingexplored the impact that heating networkscould have on the UK heating market bothin terms of helping to make heat moreaffordable but also the potential impact oncarbon emissions. All areas of the industrywere represented including heat source,pipes, and metering.
Actions from the meeting identified theneed for more focused sub groups thatcould work on subject specific topicsreporting back to an overall steering groupoverseeing output. These groups wereformed following the second meeting ofthe Heat Network working group and thefour subject specific groups are:
lHeat Sources - Boilers/CHP etclNetworks lHeat Interface UnitslMetering and Billing
If you are interested in getting involvedwith this group or participating in any of theworking groups please contact TahsinaKhan [email protected] 0
and around 50% by 2050, making a costeffective contribution to the UK’sdecarbonisation targets.
Local Authorities have a key role to play inmaking heat networks succeed. Theycan: support private networks through theplanning system; own or operate heatnetworks; or be a good heat customer –public buildings such as leisure centresand council offices have pretty consistentheat demand levels which helps thenetwork operate effectively. However, thebiggest impact Local Authorities can haveis through leading heat networks throughthe initial, and often difficult, developmentstages, and that is where government ishelping.
The Government’s March 2013 policydocument “The Future of Heating –Meeting the Challenge” and the document“Research into barriers to deployment ofdistrict heating networks” showed thatLocal Authorities needed more capabilityand capacity if they were to developsuccessful heat networks at the scaleneeded to play a serious role in meetingthe UK’s decarbonisation targets.
The HNDU provides grant funding,commercial experience and technicalexpertise to help to overcome the barriersidentified in the research and comprises oftechnical and commercial experts whohave significant experience of developingheat networks.
Each of the HNDU specialists works witha number of the successful LocalAuthorities, calling on additional input fromother HNDU colleagues where a differenttype of expertise is needed. The HNDUteam cannot run the projects or makedecisions on commissioning work fromthird parties, but they can act as a criticalfriend, helping local authority officers tofind their way through the project’sdevelopment stages to reach an investibleproposition.
The HNDU has had great feedback fromthose it is already working with. Richard
Rees, Strategic Energy Manager,Birmingham City Council said,“Birmingham’s advice for anybody thinkingof applying would be to approach HNDU atthe earliest opportunity for initial advice. Alack of local experience or knowledgeshould not dissuade authorities fromapplying as assistance and expertguidance from HNDU is available toovercome such potential barriers.”
Steve Cains, Sustainability Manager,Swindon Borough Council said, “Workingwith HNDU has been refreshing. John andCharlotte were quick to spend the day inSwindon finding out more about theprojects, and have since attended meetingswith developers and provided clearguidance on both strategy and detail whichwe would otherwise not have had. I lookforward to working with them in future andwouldn’t hesitate to recommend othercouncils apply.”
Local Authorities can apply to the HNDU fora combination of guidance and/or grantfunding for all stages of heat networkproject development, from heat mapping,energy masterplanning and feasibilitystudies to detailed project developmentleading to the preparation of an investablegrade proposal.
While we anticipate that it will be 3-5 yearsbefore many of these projects areconstructed, this is a critical investmentwhich is already changing the way thatLocal Authorities think about heat networkprojects.
To find out more about the HNDU, or toapply for funding or support, please emailthe HNDU [email protected]
H E A T N E T W O R K S
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September 2013 toencourage and enable
Local Authorities toundertake the development
stages of heat network projects. Theresponse from Local Authorities to theUnit’s work has been very enthusiastic.Through the first two rounds of fundingthe Unit has distributed £4.7m to over 70projects run by 50 Local Authorities.However, the Unit is more than just adistributer of funding. Local Authoritiesalso receive one to one guidance fromthe Unit’s technical and commercialexperts, and this in particular has beenwelcomed by Local Authorities. Round 3is now open and will be acceptingapplications from Local Authorities until27th June 2014, and we wouldencourage Local Authorities to engagewith the Unit either for this funding roundor to discuss applications for futurerounds.
There are already over 2,000 heatnetworks in the UK, supplying heat tomore than 200,000 dwellings andcommercial and public buildings. Afurther 150 schemes are estimated to beunder development by Local Authoritiesacross the UK. Estimates show thatapproximately 15% of UK heat demandcould be met by heat networks by 2030
HEATNETWORKS
HeatNetworksDeliveryUnit Update from DECCStephen Brooks,Investment DirectorHead of Heat NetworksDelivery Unit, DECC
Government is providing support to LocalAuthorities to develop heat networks,keeping bills down and reducing carbonemissions.
The Heat Networks Delivery Unit (HNDU)was set up within the Department ofEnergy and Climate Change (DECC) in