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Zero Carbon District Heat Network Development

What is a heat network?

A heat network connects multiple consumers and supplies heat and power from a centralised energy centre. A heat network that is powered by a zero carbon energy source can enable decarbonisation for number buildings through enabling the incorporation of low carbon technologies at scale, with flexibility to expand and include other zero carbon technologies over time.

Development of a Zero Carbon Heat Network

The need to decouple our energy needs form carbon emissions and secure energy supplies is becoming increasingly important. In 2017 a Master Planning exercise was undertaken to map heat demand in the count and to consider the presence of geothermal heat as a potential sustainable source of energy in certain areas. Wychavon District Council commissioned the work on behalf of and with support from other Worcestershire Districts and the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP). The Department of Energy & Climate Change’s (DECC) Heat Networks Delivery Unit (HNDU) support the project by grant funding to undertake this exercise.

After obtaining additional HNDU funding, Bromsgrove District Council developed the work undertaken from this report and commissioned a Heat Network Feasibility Study , (and associated appendix) in 2019.

A further Project Strategy Review was undertaken in 2019 again funded by HNDU following changes in UK policy which set out a number of recommendations to take the project forward.

A Project Board consisting of key stakeholders of the proposed heat network, are deciding on the way forward for the development of the heat network in the town.