HVAC
DISTRICT HEATING NETWORKS: THE HEAT IS ON FOR SOCIAL HOUSING PROVIDERS As more and more people are facing fuel poverty this winter with the escalating fuel crisis, John Fahy, Managing Director at Uponor, explains why district heating networks offer social housing providers a viable way to decarbonise their housing stock and help to reduce energy bills for residents.
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istrict heating networks have seen a resurgence of interest lately in the UK. This is mainly due to industry innovations that are helping to lower carbon emissions and deliver heat in a more efficient and costly manner.
norm, but the main markets are currently in Germany, followed by Poland and Sweden2. Copenhagen has the world’s most extensive district heating system, servicing over an incredible 98% of buildings, making it miles ahead of any city in the UK.
Reducing fuel bills and emissions
Harnessing renewable technology and sustainable solutions
The Government believes that district heating networks can reduce fuel bills by 30% and has made it clear that it also wants to see a wider uptake of these networks to reduce CO2 emissions and meet the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets. Currently, only about 2% of the UK’s heat is delivered by heat networks, but the Government believes that this could increase to 20% by 20501. Although district heating networks have been used in the UK since the 1960s, we are still far behind the rest of Europe, where heat networks meet about 12% of the EU’s heat demand. District heating is most common in the Nordic and Baltic regions, where cold winters are the
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District heating is a system where energy is generated from a central source for heating and domestic hot water to be distributed through an underground network of insulated pipes to several properties. These can be homes in a social housing development, multi-occupancy buildings or a combination of both. Homes can be connected to a reliable and efficient heat source, even if they are not on the gas network, which removes a reliance on fossil fuels. This means they can be coupled with renewable technologies, such as wind, solar and hydro, to provide a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.
As technologies advance, the industry is constantly finding new ways to provide energy for these networks. Waste heat can be harnessed from thermal power stations and industrial sites. Even heat from the London Underground is being used to provide heat and hot water for homes and businesses in Islington. Inside the home, district heating networks also provide an excellent opportunity to make the most of the increasing popularity of sustainable solutions, such as radiant heating systems, radiant panels and underfloor heating, which provide greater thermal comfort. These systems are particularly well suited to heat networks as they operate at low temperatures and offer a more energyefficient and cost-effective way to heat and cool a property. Using high-performance insulated pipes with a high degree of flexibility will also reduce the number of required connections, which minimises the possibility of leaks occurring and further improves the system’s efficiency.