District Heating

District heating is a mature technology used extensively in many European cities. Highly insulated infrastructure is used to transport heat from locations where it has little value (such as the back of a power station) to locations where it has high value (heating homes and other buildings).

Heat networks can enable a range of low carbon heat sources, but constructing them can be challenging, particularly in contemporary liberalised energy markets. Our research explores these challenges, considering the roles of different actors, the implications of different business models, what works in policy, planning and regulation, and what changing to this form of energy supply means for users.

Net Zero Living and Societal Change: A Scoping Study

Multi-level Governance and Energy Demand

How are devolved, regional and local authorities responding differently to goals of low energy, low carbon development and building retrofit?

Reframing Energy Demand – Innovation for Sustainable Heat

How are the ‘problems’ of sustainable heat and energy efficiency understood in different countries and different cities, and how can they be solved?

Heat and the City project

What role do ‘cities’ play in sustainable energy transitions in the UK and elsewhere in Europe?

Scottish Heat Network Partnership Practitioner Group

The Practitioner Group brings together a range of public sector, non-profit and commercial organisations actively developing or operating heat networks in Scotland.

UK District Energy Vanguards Network

Local Authority knowledge exchange network about district energy systems

Stratego

The Stratego project (July 2014 – July 2016), worked across 12 European countries, including Scotland, aiming to aid the development of effective heating and cooling plans and build capacities to deliver district heating on the ground.

Meeting the strategic challenges of UK district heating: research briefing and practitioner resources

Ruth Bush, David Hawkey and Janette Webb ( 2019 )

Report

DEVN: Heat Networks The Road to Commercialisation LONDON Slide Pack

( 2019 )

Presentation

Working Paper: The problem of heat and its solution – dynamics of sustainable heat policy visions in the UK, Denmark and Germany

David Hawkey ( 2018 )

Working paper

Response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s “Heat Networks Market Study – Update Paper”

David Hawkey ( 2018 )

Consultation response

Aberdeen Heat & Power A growing Not-for-Profit Model

Ian Booth ( 2018 )

Presentation

Enabling to ensuring- heat networks as a tool for local re-engagement in energy

Jess Britton ( 2018 )

Presentation

Danish experiences with public and local ownership of district heating companies

Rune Nielsen ( 2018 )

Presentation

Response to Scottish Government “Second consultation on local heat & energy efficiency strategies, and regulation of district and communal heating”

David Hawkey, Ruth Bush, Margaret Tingey and Janette Webb ( 2018 )

Consultation response

Vanguards Presentation: Learning from Scotland: business cases for heat networks
Scottish Futures Trust

Paul Moseley ( 2018 )

Presentation

Vanguards Presentation: Building your financial model
Teno Accounting

Tina Buchanan ( 2018 )

Presentation

District Energy Vanguards Network – Heat Networks: Planning for a Zero Carbon World SHEFFIELD March 2020

Free one-day workshop
Tuesday 10 March 2020
Sheffield

District Energy Vanguards Network – Heat Networks: Planning for a Zero Carbon World BRISTOL November 2019

Free one-day workshop
Bristol
19 November 2019

District Energy Vanguards Network – Heat Networks: The Road to Commercialisation MANCHESTER

District Energy Vanguards Network – Heat Networks: The Road to Commercialisation MANCHESTER May 2019

Free one-day workshop
Tuesday 21st May 2019 – Manchester

District Energy Vanguards Network: Heat Networks The Road to Commercialisation LONDON

District Energy Vanguards Network: Heat Networks The Road to Commercialisation LONDON February 2019

District Energy Vanguards Network: Heat Networks The Road to Commercialisation
Free one-day workshop for local authorities and other public sector organisations
Monday 4th February 2019, London

Academic Workshop on Sustainable Heating Provisions and Cities: Theory, Practice and Future Implications

Academic Workshop on Sustainable Heating Provisions and Cities: Theory, Practice and Future Implications October 2014

Workshop to examine the current state of social science knowledge about sustainable heating provisions in European cities.

Stratego Project local district heating stakeholder events

Stratego Project local district heating stakeholder events June 2016

Seven local authority-led events, focusing on key parts of their strategic approach to district heating development.

Scottish Consultation Events on Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies, and Regulation of District Heating

Scottish Consultation Events on Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies, and Regulation of District Heating March 2017

Inverness and Edinburgh

District Energy Vanguards Network: Heat Networks Investment Programme and District Energy Procurement Agency April 2016

District Energy Vanguards Network: Financial Plans, Building a Heat Tariff and Heat Metering July 2015

District Energy Vanguards Network: What Works for District Energy Business Models in Britain? December 2014

District Energy Vanguards Network: Next Steps in Financing District Energy November 2013

District Energy Vanguards Network meet to discuss UK Gov Heat Strategy

District Energy Vanguards Network meet to discuss UK Gov Heat Strategy February 2013

The UK Government plans to publish its Heat Strategy in March 2013. DECC wished to test proposals relating to district heating with the members of the Vanguards Network. To this end the Vanguards met on Friday 15th February 2013, and were kindly hosted by Sheffield City Council at the Sheffield Town Hall.

District Energy Vanguards Network: Financing District Heating Initiatives May 2012

District Energy Vanguards Network: Leadership and Organisation for District Energy September 2011