
The £288 million Green Heat Network Fund will open on 14th March to support the rollout of new low-carbon heating technologies for homes and businesses.
The government funding scheme will back the uptake of low carbon heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy for central heating in homes and commercial properties in England. It is estimated the scheme could deliver 9.7 million tonnes of carbon savings by 2050, equivalent to taking 5.6 million cars of the road for a year.
The Green Heat Network Fund will be open to public, private and third sector applicants is anticipated to run to 2025. Grants provided will support green heating projects where a central energy source provides heat to multiple properties and businesses.
Energy Minister Lord Callanan said:
“Heating in buildings forms a significant part of the UK’s carbon footprint, so changing how we warm our homes and workspaces is vital to meeting our world-leading climate change commitments.
“Heat networks are an effective way of reducing carbon emissions and this fund will enable us to accelerate the roll-out of these cutting-edge and green technologies.”
CEO of the Association for Decentralised Energy Lily Frencham said:
“We’re delighted that the government is invigorating the transition to zero-carbon heating across the UK that uses good old-fashioned pipes and water to transport heat from green energy centres to homes and businesses.
“Heat networks offer the most cost-effective tried and tested way of decarbonising our towns and cities and it is great to see government’s continued support for the sector through the launch of the Green Heat Network Fund.
“Heat networks have a critical role to play in the UK’s net zero future – and 2022 will be a crucial year for the heat networks sector.”