North East ambition to be UK’s first low carbon heat cluster taking shape

The North East’s drive to create the UK’s first low carbon heat cluster has taken a step forward with figures from local government and the energy sector convening on Tyneside.

The Association for Decentralised Energy’s Heat Network Conference 2022, a major national conference on the future of heating for homes and businesses was followed by a day-long forum, jointly hosted by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and the Royal Danish Embassy in London.

The two events were organised in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The focus was on how the North East might lead the UK’s drive to achieve a fifth of heating from clean heat networks by 2050 (up from 2 per cent currently).

Lucy Winskell OBE, chair of the North East LEP, said: “The North East has already been recognised by the Government as having the UK’s fastest-growing pipeline of low-carbon heat projects, with innovative projects already delivered such as the Gateshead District Energy Scheme (DES), Newcastle Helix and many more in the construction phase.”

The North East already has a £500m+ pipeline of heat network projects in development and construction, and the event aims to help develop the knowledge, skills and supply chain needed to advance these projects.

The region has been designated by the Department for International Trade as a High Potential Opportunity area for foreign investment in heat networks, and BEIS reckons by 2050, around one-in-five homes could be supplied by heat networks – with most of these homes found in towns and cities.

Lucy Winskell added: “There is a clear opportunity for economic growth and investment in our region as a result of our excellence in the low carbon heat sector, alongside other net zero sectors such as offshore wind and battery technology.

“We have the backing of central government and, with the support of experts who have implemented heat networks in Denmark, we will make the North East the UK’s exemplar for low carbon heating – while also bringing more and better jobs to the region.”