BEIS proposes connection mandate within heat network zones

All new and large non-domestic buildings may be required to connect to a heat network if they are within a zone earmarked for the communal heating systems, the government has suggested.

A consultation paper issued on Friday (8 October) by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) outlined its proposals for the creation and operation of heat network zones.

The document proposed that all new buildings within heat network zones should be required to install a communal system, if appropriate, to facilitate later connection to larger district schemes.

Large public sector and non-domestic buildings, as well as larger domestic premises which are currently communally heated, would also be required to connect to a heat network within a prescribed timeframe.

Large residential buildings, which are already heated communally or undergoing major refurbishment, would be required to connect as well.

Existing communal networks could be connected to larger district heat networks.

However, not all buildings within a zone would have to be connected if doing so would increase costs, for instance, if an individual building’s heat demand is low or where the network would need to be extended over long distances.

Exemptions would also be possible in instance where it would not be cost-effective to connect compared to an alternative low-carbon solution.

The paper said a low carbon requirement would also be introduced to ensure that new heat networks built within the designated zones are compatible with the government’s net zero commitments.

Knowing certain types of building within a heat network zone will be connected to a district heat network would give investors greater confidence in such projects, which would in turn help support the delivery of viable, large-scale heat networks, the document claimed.

The paper set out a four-stage process for delivering heat network zones.

The first of these would be a national mapping exercise to identify and publish areas where heat network zones are likely to be appropriate.

This would then be refined at the local level, including buildings that would be required to connect, by consulting within the local community.

Based on this work, zones would be designated in areas where networks are the lowest cost low carbon heat solution.

Councils would be expected to take the lead on designating and co-ordinating heat network zones.

However, where a promising heat network zone has been identified but not designated, the paper sought views on whether the business and energy secretary should intervene to direct a local authority to designate a heat network zone or designate it on their behalf.

Commenting on the consultation, Amy Ritchie, heat policy lead at the Association for Decentralised Energy, said the zoning framework would help mobilise industry to deliver “cost effective solutions for heat decarbonisation right across the country”.

“A local, zoned approach to addressing the challenge of decarbonising heat and improving energy efficiency will deliver not only a massive reduction in emissions, but also an increase in comfort – as well as significant growth in jobs and skills across regions.”