The government has said it will spend £19 million on setting up five low carbon heat networks across the UK.

Two will be based in Bristol, while the other three will be located in Liverpool, London, and Worthing.

Heat networks supply heat from a central source to consumers, like large rivers and heat from sewers via a network of underground pipes carrying hot water, and supplies it through pipes to homes and businesses.

The funding comes from the government’s £320 million Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP), which supports the development of heat networks across England and Wales.

Other heat networks currently being developed include Leeds City County’s 16km district heat network, Cardiff Town Heat Network in South Wales, spreading across the Cardiff Bay area, and Newcastle University’s District Heat Network within their city centre campus.

The heat networks sector, which currently provides roughly 2 per cent of UK heat demand, could meet around a fifth of heat demand by 2050, according to the government.

“Almost a third of all UK carbon emissions come from heating our homes and addressing this is a vital part of tackling pollution, driving down bills and reducing our reliance on costly fossil fuels,” said minister for climate change, Lord Callanan. “Today’s announcement builds on our commitments made in the Heat and Buildings Strategy to regulate the UK’s heat networks, protect consumers, and create opportunities for green jobs and investment across the country.

“This will allow thousands of households and businesses to feel the benefits of projects that are breaking new ground and making our villages, towns and cities cleaner places to live and work.”

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