New heat network council launched

The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) has launched the Heat Network Industry Council with the objective of supporting Government in achieving its vision of achieving a sustainable industry.

16th October 2018 by Networks

The heat network industry says it can create jobs, cut costs, reduce carbon and create more liveable cities – all while delivering for customers – if Government reduces investment risk in heat networks. The actions it will take to do this will form part of an offer to be made to Government by industry by the newly formed Heat Network Industry Council.

The council is made up of 13 leaders of the heat network industry who will identify measures that the Government can take to create jobs, cut costs, reduce carbon and create more liveable cities.

These include:

Create jobs and investment (focusing on the investment that could be unlocked by the sector, and the number and quality of jobs that will be created as a result)
Cut costs (to both those looking to invest in heat networks and customers supplied by a heat network)
Reduce carbon (setting out industry’s commitment to decarbonisation)
Create more liveable, smarter cities (including how it can support grid balancing services and flexibility and improve air quality)
Drive excellence in customer service and standards (including how industry will drive up the customer experience).

Claire Perry, Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, said: “The UK has led the world in cutting emissions whilst growing our economy – with clean growth driving incredible innovation and creating hundreds of thousands of high quality jobs.

“Ten years on from the Climate Change Act, the first ever Green GB week is a time to build on our successes and explain the huge opportunities for business and young people of a cleaner economy.

“I’m delighted to see how many more businesses and organisations such as the Association for Decentralised Energy are seizing this multi-billion pound opportunity to energise their communities to tackle the very serious threat of climate change.”

ADE director Dr Tim Rotheray commented: “Industry and Government have the same objective; to deliver a sustainable heat network industry that delivers for customers. Neither industry nor government can deliver on this objective alone.

“The council exists to set out ambitious commitments of what the heat networks industry will deliver, in return for policy measures which ensure heat network infrastructure projects are an attractive investment proposition.”

The ADE’s current and ongoing programs of work will help inform the offer made to Government by the council. These programs of work include the development of a build quality and performance compliance scheme, engagement with the CMA following its heat network market study and the provision of ongoing support to Heat Trust, the customer protection scheme established by the industry in 2015.

The council expects to formally present its offer to Government next year.

The 13 members of the Heat Network Industry Council are: Siemens (Chair); The ADE; BU-UK; EDF Energy; ENGIE; EON; Pinnacle Power; Ramboll; SSE; Switch2; Vattenfall; Veolia; Vital Energi.