Engineering news
The plan is one of five green heating schemes to receive a share of nearly £65m government funding today (3 November).
The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) in the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and Ealing will recycle waste heat from large computer systems storing internet data to supply heating for the local community. The heat network, which has received £36m funding, will connect to 10,000 new homes and 250,000m2 of commercial space.
“Recycling the huge amounts of wasted heat from our local data centres into heat and energy for local residents, a major hospital and other users is an exciting and innovative example of OPDC’s support for the mayor’s net zero ambitions,” said chief executive David Lunts.
“We are excited to be leading the way in developing low-carbon infrastructure, supporting current and future generations of Londoners in Old Oak and Park Royal to live more sustainably.”
The Green Heat Network Fund has allocated grants to projects in London, Watford, and Suffolk. At Lancaster University, another £21m project will use a large heat pump, solar farm and an existing wind turbine to fully decarbonise campus heating.
Heat networks help cut carbon emissions by supplying heat to multiple buildings from a central source, avoiding the need for households and workplaces to rely on individual, energy-intensive heating, such as gas boilers. The transition to heat networks forms a major part of the UK’s carbon reduction commitment, with heating in buildings making up 30% of all emissions.
Lord Martin Callanan, minister for energy efficiency, said: “Keeping homes warm with waste heat from technology is a glimpse into the future – and demonstrates just how innovative this country can be when it comes to reducing our carbon emissions.
“The £65m we’ve awarded today will help spread this success across the country, by rolling out innovative low-carbon heating to help to drive down energy bills and deliver our net zero goal.”
In Chilton Woods, Suffolk, a new housing estate heat pump will provide low-carbon heating to nearly 1,000 homes and a primary school. The project, which has received £745,000, will also include a thermal store, meaning any excess energy generated from the system can be fed into the national grid.
The London Borough of Brent will receive nearly £5.2m for the South Kilburn District Heat Network, supplying heat using air source heat pumps combined with back-up gas boilers to 34 sites, connecting 2,900 customers.
Watford Community Housing, a not-for-profit housing association with approximately 5,700 homes, will receive £1.8m of funding to replace an old gas district heating system with ground source and air source heat pumps.
Today’s funding follows earlier allocation of £122m to other heat network projects.
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