The UK Government says nearly 28,000 homes and businesses will be “shielded from costly fossil fuels” after it awards more than £54 million to innovative heat network projects in England.
Almost £28m will fund two heat network projects in Haringey in London, with nearly £17m going to a project in Stewartby in Bedfordshire, and a further £9m for one in Woking.
The Government says the funding will support the rollout of heat networks helping reduce energy bills and support local regeneration. It also says the move away from costly fossil fuels will see heat networks also help shore up the UK’s energy independence.
The funding will support the development of schemes in London, Bedfordshire, and Woking that use low-carbon heat sources such as heat pumps and energy from waste to warm properties.
By investing in cutting-edge low-carbon heating technologies we are helping to secure a lasting move away from using fossil fuels.
The Government says the move will mean home and business owners can ditch boilers fuelled by more expensive oil and gas, helping reduce energy bills and boost the country’s energy independence.
It continues that the cash injection will enable the projects to develop and complete construction of the networks providing energy to households and commercial sites including shops, offices, and public buildings.
As well as helping households move away from expensive fossil fuels, the Government says the funding helps address the urgent need to reduce the carbon footprint of heating homes and workspaces.
The annual carbon savings from these four projects is the equivalent to taking over 5,500 cars off the road or the average household use of over 400 kettles, the Government says.
Minister for Business and Energy, Lord Callanan, said: “These projects will transform how tens of thousands of households and businesses keep their properties warm.
“By investing in cutting-edge low-carbon heating technologies we are helping to secure a lasting move away from using fossil fuels and protecting consumers from the costs that are driving up energy bills at a time of high global prices.”