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A new government funding scheme has opened to boost the rollout of next-generation green heating technologies in homes and businesses.
The £288 million Green Heat Network Fund will support the uptake of low carbon heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy for central heating in homes and commercial properties in England. Green heating systems installed through the fund are expected to reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 5.6 million cars off the road for year, or 9.7 million tonnes of carbon savings by 2050.
The Green Heat Network Fund will be open to public, private and third sector applicants from 14 March 2022 and is anticipated to run to 2025 and will support 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.”