--- title: "Best Practice - Article Page" path: https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en/brand-redesign/brand-redesign-guidelines/ArticlePage.html lastModified: 2024-12-18T08:37:08.156Z --- # Best Practice - Article Page **29** NOV 2024 # What is a Heat Network? Our guide to district heating and how it can help shift towards a more sustainable future ![city with heat network](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/geothermie0054%3A2-1?fmt=webp-alpha) public building ##### City with Heat Network ![City with Heat Network](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/content/dam/foundationNG/images/brand-redesign/image2.png/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1280.720.png) Find detailed information about heat networks here.... office building ##### Building with Heat Network ![City with Heat Network](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/content/dam/foundationNG/images/brand-redesign/image2.png/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1280.720.png) Find detailed information about heat networks here.... private home ##### Heat Network for your Private Home ![City with Heat Network](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/content/dam/foundationNG/images/brand-redesign/image2.png/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1280.720.png) Find detailed information about heat networks here.... District heating networks, also known as heat networks, are a sustainable alternative to more traditional forms of heating. With the UK paving the way to a net-zero future, understanding the role of these heating networks is becoming crucial for new housing developments, businesses, and public buildings alike. With global trends towards urbanisation estimated to reach 68%¹ by 2050, compared to 55%¹ of today, a district heating network is an energy efficient solution for any urban development. ## Mrs. Sandra Energy She / her Email: sandra.energy@eon.com Phone: +491520000000 Facebook: https://facebook.com/Sandra.Energy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/Sandra.Energy Instagram: https://instagram.com/Sandra.Energy Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sandra.Energy ![Sandra Energy](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/d1db61d5248133f68fb59e23a3b10e6f%3A1-1?fmt=webp-alpha) ### How does a district heating network work? District heating networks provide heat by harnessing excess energy from renewable sources, like waste heat, or from combined heat and power plants. This is then delivered to multiple homes and businesses from a single, centralised heating system. Energy can be stored to meet demand as required. This is different from traditional methods, where each building operates its own individual boiler or heating system. Heat in the form of water or steam is efficiently and cost-effectively transported through a network of underground insulated pipes, from the source to its destination. ![district heating network](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/Heating%20Network%3A16-9?fmt=webp-alpha) ##### Citigen Virtual Tour [Take a closer look at Citigen](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en/brand-redesign/brand-redesign-guidelines/ArticlePage.html) ### The opportunity for a low carbon, affordable future ![Power Plant](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/PowerPlant%3A16-9?fmt=webp-alpha&ts=1778151956637) To achieve the UK's net zero goals, the government has mandated an increase in the use of heat network technology to an estimated 18%2 by 2050. Currently, only slightly over 2%3 of the nation is connected to these networks, making it crucial to expand this percentage to enable the UK to take strides towards its net-zero goals. District heating efficiency can play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions, helping to tackle fuel poverty, and lowering housing management costs, particularly in densely populated areas. ##### Expanding Heat Networks: A Critical Step Towards the UK's Net Zero Goals The presence of over 17,0004 heat networks of varying sizes in the UK, supporting close to half a million domestic connections, testifies to the system's potential. Yet, the journey ahead involves broadening the reach and efficiency of these networks to ensure they become a cornerstone of our sustainable energy landscape. ##### Harnessing Industrial Heat: Financial, Environmental, and Community Benefits Heat that's generated and released into the atmosphere during industrial processes can be captured and reused. Businesses can take the excess heat they produce and sell it, potentially offsetting their energy costs and providing new revenue. This isn't just financially beneficial; it’s also carbon-reducing, and it can turn into employment stability too. When a business is more stable and less affected by the fluctuating costs of energy, local jobs become more secure. The benefits don’t stop there; the local community can tap into district heating benefits for their homes and businesses, reducing the demand on each homeowner to invest in additional sustainable measures like solar panels or heat pumps if they live in an apartment or tower block. These low-carbon solutions aren't always an option, and district heating can help make sustainable living more accessible for everyone. ### Are heat networks efficient? When it comes to working out the efficiency of district heating networks, the costs associated with building and maintaining them will depend on the size of the development. For larger projects such as urban developments, hospitals, and manufacturing plants, district heating networks prove to be more beneficial than traditional heating methods. The contract duration of a district heating network can span from 25 to 40 years with operation and maintenance included, so if anything needs to be replaced it will be covered within the contract term. Whereas with a boiler, you are looking at a lifespan of around 10 to 15 years. ##### Connecting buildings to a heat network helps to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Our Citigen network in London is dedicated to lowering emissions by 50% to create cleaner air for local communities. With this percentage increasing to 100% by 2050. Heat network efficiency is also a crucial consideration, with new home gas boilers only providing 80% to 90% efficiency, the network can use every bit of heat, resulting in reduced energy costs for businesses, tenants, and homeowners. Additionally, implementing cost-effective and sustainable solutions, can created green jobs within the local community. ### We’re providing decarbonisation for towns and cities across the nation ##### With our proven track record of implementing over 70 district heating networks in the UK. We're working with developers and local authorities, to supply low-carbon energy to businesses and homes around the country. Our combined heat and power plant at Blackburn Meadows in Sheffield is powered by biomass, using recycled waste wood sourced from up to 50–75 miles away from the network local area. This generates 30MW of electrical energy and up to 25MW of thermal energy to power the equivalent of 69,0005 homes and businesses. In the heart of the City of London’s square mile sits Citigen, our decentralised power plant which provides a total of 22MW of low-carbon heating and hot water to the equivalent 13,600 homes and businesses through 4MW heat pumps drawing water from the London Aquifer. With the addition of a 320,000-litre thermal hot water storage tank, allowing for peak times to ensure all the homes and businesses on the network receive the heating and cooling they need. Where there’s opportunity, there are jobs, and the provision of clean energy not only helps the UK reach its net zero targets but creates a new wave of industry. ![Blackburn Meadows Biomass Power Plant](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/PowerPlant%3A16-9?fmt=webp-alpha&ts=1778151956637) ![Blackburn Meadows Biomass Power Plant 2](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/PowerPlant2%3A16-9?fmt=webp-alpha) ![Blackburn Meadows Biomass Power Plant 3](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/PowerPlant3%3A16-9?fmt=webp-alpha) #### Connecting Forgemasters' to the Blackburn Meadows biomass plant has meant a reduction in our carbon emissions of over 700 tonnes of CO₂, to support our environmental credentials, whilst helping decarbonise Sheffield. Environmental team, Forgemasters #### Footnotes 1 Figures sourced from The United Nations; Department of Economic and Social Affairs: News: 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050 2 Figure sourced from gov.uk - Energy Security Bill Contextual Note: Heat Network Zoning and the planning system 4 Figure sourced from the Energy Saving Trust: What is a District Heating Network 3 Figure sourced from the Energy Saving Trust: What is a District Heating Network 5 Figure sourced from Ofgem, based on an average annual household electricity consumption of 2,700kWh