Open data could save UK heat networks £400 million in 10 years

Research has shown that by sharing data on the sources of system inefficiencies, new and existing UK heat networks could save hundreds of millions of pounds.

The findings spring off the back of a government funded research programme known as Pinpoint (see Network issue 02 ‘Pinning down performance‘). This initiative was led by clean tech firm Guru Systems and supported by the Open Data Institute (ODI). It involved gathering consumption data across dozens of UK heat networks to diagnose hidden inefficiencies and generate suggested interventions.

Findings from the Pinpoint project are now available to industry as part of an open data agreement which Guru Systems managing director Casey Coles said is “key to helping the UK energy sector deliver cheaper, more efficient heat to people living on heat networks across the country.

“By releasing anonymised consumption data we have been able to show operators, designers and subsequently customers what good looks like.”

Explaining the fresh insights into the scale of opportunity for heat network efficiencies Cole added: “The majority of the £400 million in projected savings comes from a reduction in the oversizing of networks as well as increased fuel efficiency across the lifetime of these new systems.”

Guru Systems has calculated that due to the use of outdated and inaccurate modelling methods, heat network developers generally oversize UK installations by around 30% leading to excessive expense on central boilers and pipe work as well as performance issues when the system becomes operational.

The new data made available via the Pinpoint project should enable developers to avoid such oversizing and clearer expectations for system performance and heat tariffs. Jeni Tennison, technical director at the ODI said the information could “have significant economic and environmental impacts on a macro scale,” benefitting the energy industry as a whole and the nascent heat sector in particular.

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