UK Networks Transition Challenges - Heat

There are roughly 2000 heat networks in the UK; however, this remains a niche means of providing heating to homes and other buildings, serving less than 2% of UK domestic demand. The largest networks are in Nottingham and Sheffield but these are each less than 100km in total length and serve only a small fraction of their respective city’s heat needs. Heat networks are more widespread in a number of other countries (e.g. Denmark, Finland and Sweden); a mixture of cultural, climatic and economic reasons driving their adoption there. The decisions to pursue heat networks in these countries have been reinforced through a mixture of government support, community ownership models and taxation on alternatives such as gas.