Heating homes while cutting carbon emissions has taken a major step forward with a new innovation from UK Power Networks.
Decarbonising heat is one of the biggest challenges in the UK’s journey to Net Zero. At present, heat networks supply only around 3% of the country’s heating demand, but this is expected to rise to 20% by 2050.
These networks, which deliver heating and hot water from a central energy source, are set to replace fossil fuels with electrified systems. While this will reduce emissions, it will also place new demands on the electricity grid.
To prepare for this shift, UK Power Networks has teamed up with Arup, Environmental Resources Management and Bring Energy – which owns and operates the East London Energy Distribution Heat Network – to launch an project called HeatScape.
HeatScape will map where heat networks already exist, predict where they are likely to expand and estimate how much electricity they’ll require under different future scenarios.
Using advanced modelling, data analysis and real-world insights, the project will show how electrified heat networks interact with the grid. The results will feed into UK Power Networks’ Strategic Forecasting System, helping the company plan and adapt its infrastructure to meet rising demand.
The project will also look at ways to make heat networks more flexible, such as using thermal storage to smooth out peaks in electricity use. In partnership with Bring Energy, HeatScape will explore customer appetite for energy flexibility and support the roll-out of low-carbon technologies.
Together with the company’s Heatropolis initiative, HeatScape demonstrates UK Power Networks’ commitment to driving innovation in heat decarbonisation and supporting the UK’s transition to a cleaner energy system.
Luca Grella, head of innovation at UK Power Networks, said: ‘Decarbonising heat is one of the biggest opportunities we have to create a cleaner, more efficient energy future. With HeatScape, we’re taking a proactive approach, working with our partners to understand where heat networks will grow and how they’ll interact with the grid.
‘By combining data, modelling and customer insights, we can plan smarter, reduce costs and make sure the transition to low-carbon heating benefits everyone.’
Stephen Hutchins, concession director at Bring Energy, said: ‘As operators of East London Energy, one of the UK’s largest heat networks, Bring Energy see first-hand the importance of forward-looking, data-driven planning in the shift to low-carbon heat.
‘HeatScape will give us a clearer picture of how and where heat networks are likely to grow, and what that means for our electricity infrastructure. We’re excited to be partnering with an industry leader in innovation like UK Power Networks to explore new ways to make heat networks more flexible, including smarter use of thermal storage.
‘We believe this collaborative project will help accelerate the transition to cleaner, more efficient energy systems for communities across the UK.’
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