A new partnership has been appointed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to deliver progress under the Heat Network Zoning Consultancy Framework.
Arup will be working with its partner Ordnance Survey (OS) to deliver technical and consulting services around the identification and development of heat network zones in England.
According to a statement, heat network zoning is designed to transform the development of new heat networks by designating geographic zones so that local authorities and heat network developers can identify where new large-scale strategic heat networks should be constructed.
Heat network zones currently provide about 3% of total UK heat, it said. Government analysis showed that heat networks zones could provide up to 20% of resilient low carbon UK heat by 2050.
Arup and OS are set to collaborate to build on the Framework’s valuable contributions to the DESNZ Zoning pilot project, Heat Network Zoning Transition, Advance Zoning and City Decarbonisation Delivery programmes.
Stephen Cook, director, Urban Energy, at Arup, said: “Heat network zoning will drive the development of low carbon heat networks at speed and scale across England. Since 2021, Arup and other partners have been working closely with the DESNZ to assess options and develop the design for how heat network zoning could work in practice.
“This new appointment will allow Arup and our partners to help DESNZ pivot from policy design to policy implementation, supporting the formation the new zoning body organisations, equipping them with the tools and capabilities they need to succeed, and driving forward the development of strategic heat network zone projects.”
John Kimmance, chief customer officer at OS, added: “OS’s trusted and authoritative data has already supported many energy, utility and telecoms companies in connecting millions of homes across the country and managing assets going forward. We are therefore delighted to be part of this new consultancy framework and proud to be partnering with the two leading domain experts in this space.
“The collaboration with Arup puts our geospatial insight and expertise right at the heart of the UK’s long-term net zero goals. We very much hope the new framework will be responsible for a significant increase in the uptake of Heat Network Zones, one of the Government’s strategic sustainable energy initiatives.”