1,000 buildings in central London, including the Houses of Parliament, could soon be warmed by low-carbon heat sourced from the River Thames, London Underground, and the city’s sewer network.
The new heat network will cover a zone stretching from Victoria Station to Temple Underground Station, bounded by St James’ Park. It will save an estimated 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent to planting 1.2 million trees or removing 40,000 cars from the road.
A heat network, sometimes described as ‘central heating for cities’, supplies heat via underground pipes carrying hot water. Many heat sources can be harnessed by these networks, including waste heat generated by existing industry and infrastructure.
Two leading heat network developers, Hemiko and Vital Energi, have formed a joint venture named the SWAN Partnership, to fund, build, and operate the project. The partnership plans to invest £100m in the next three years, and a total of £1 billion by 2050.
“New low-carbon district heat networks will tap into local waste heat sources, delivering clean and affordable energy to those who need it most,” said Westminster City Council Leader, Cllr Adam Hugh. “The SWAN project will be a crucial piece of our net zero carbon journey in Westminster, leading the way for others and showing what a positive clean energy future could look like.”
The UK Government says that heat networks are often the cheapest low carbon heating option and are vital to making net zero a reality in the UK. They aim to provide 20% of the UK’s heating demand via heat networks by 2050.
