HEAT NETWORKS, HEAT PUMPS AND HEALTHCARE SPECIAL FEATURES This month: Symposium papers; Queens Quay heat network; heat-pump installation guide; heat batteries; hospital offsite build E.ON plans 4m heat pump scheme in Square Mile Project aims to capture CHP waste heat from existing energy centre E.ON has announced a scheme to install a ground source heat pump at its Citigen energy centre in the City of London. The 4m project, to be sited in the historic Port of London Authority building on Charterhouse Street, is forecast to give the same amount of heat used by 2,300 homes with half the carbon emissions. Built by energy company E.ON UK, it will use three 200m boreholes to tap the natural warmth of the earth to offer heating and cooling to nearby buildings. The project will extend the existing Citigen plant, which uses a heat network connected to two combined heat and power plants (CHPs). The heat pump scheme will capture waste heat from the CHPs. Energy minister Lord Callanan said: E.ONs project is a commercial vote heat pumps. It means homes and businesses across the City of London another great example of how the pace of rolling out cutting-edge, low-carbon Businesses in the City of London technologies is being accelerated across the UK. Michael Lewis, E.ON UK chief executive, said: Tackling the environmental impact of heating, especially in densely populated areas, will be key to meeting the UKs 2050 net-zero targets. Part of that challenge means reimagining how energy is provided to homes, businesses and cities. In taking the next step and installing heat pump and geothermal technology at Citigen, were making a powerful statement of what can be done to reduce carbon usage on a large scale. Check meters must be a priority Research by metering and billing agent Insite Energy shows that the majority of heat networks it manages have no check meters. The company, which works with heat providers and property owners, has stressed the importance of check meters after data loggers across 250 heat networks revealed that only around 20% have at least one connected. ratings usually because the meter is not labelled and it is not clear to what the data refers, Insite Energy said. The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 27 November 2020, place obligations on anyone supplying and charging for heating, cooling or hot water through a heat network. Under the regulations, heat suppliers of buildings under the open class must have completed a cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility evaluation by 27 November 2021. Where it is determined that they are required, heat suppliers must ensure heat meters and/or heat-cost allocators are installed by 1 September 2022. From 1 September 2022, heat suppliers will have to ensure meters or heat costallocators (as applicable) are installed as soon as it is determined that a building falls within the open class. Insite Energy has recommended that the installation of check meters is made the plantroom. Heat Trust signs up 100th heat network The number of sites registered with Heat Trust has grown by 30% over the past year. Clapham Park heat network, operated by Pinnacle Power under its With Energy brand, is the latest to have joined the voluntary consumer-protection scheme. This means more than 57,000 people on 100 heat networks across the country are now protected under Heat Trust. Heat networks are set to play a key role in meeting carbon-reduction targets and creating a sustainable energy future, homes could be reliant on heat-network infrastructure by 2050. Heat Trust monitors and audits participating suppliers to ensure they live up to their commitments, and works to promote best practice in customer service in the sector. Managing director Stephen Knight said customers deserve the same rights and protections as those living and working in properties in the regulated sector. Councils explore mine-water schemes Sunderland City Council is to submit a bid for government funding for a project with the potential to harness green energy from old mine workings to heat city buildings. The 2.22m Heat Networks Investment Project grant will allow further studies to take place to understand whether geothermal heat could be extracted from the former Wearmouth Colliery. Subject to funding and the scheme being deemed viable, the energy from mine water could be used to heat new homes being developed at Riverside Sunderland, as well as other city buildings. Elsewhere, a scheme designed to heat buildings with mine water has been scaled back by Bridgend Council after it was found to be too expensive. Experts found that more research was needed for the Caerau Heat Network project, which was supposed to use heat from water in former coal mines boosted by a ground source heat pump for heating and hot water in residents homes. moving ahead with a new smaller scale plan that would see mine water being used to heat Caerau Primary School. Two other low carbon heating schemes were recommended: a small-scale heat pump on the Tudor Estate; and a private wire Renewable Energy Park, providing low carbon power. www.cibsejournal.com August 2021 33 CIBSE Aug 21 pp33 Heat networks news.indd 33 23/07/2021 12:21