Heat networks will play a significant role in the long-term decarbonization of heating in the UK, supporting the UK’s ambitious targets to reach net zero by 2050.
The UK Government and the Scottish Government have prioritized the development of a long-term market framework that will drive investment in heat networks, ensure consumers are adequately protected, and support decarbonization. The safe and interoperable growth of the heat networks market is supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Energy and Climate Change Directorate of the Scottish Government, who are working with a wide range of stakeholders to develop policy, regulation and other tools that will enable the further development of the market.
As part of this effort, BEIS and the Scottish Government have acknowledged the important role that standardization can play and have partnered with BSI to carry out a pre-standardization research project. Our ‘UK Heat Networks’ report - the main outcome of Phase 1 of the project - gathers insights from in-depth research and stakeholder engagement to explore the role that standards can play in the future of safe and interoperable heat networks. It provides a high-level roadmap of key standardization needs, recommendations for potential future standards and standards uptake routes.
Who should read the report?
Anyone interested in growing the UK heat networks market or involved in the heat networks supply chain, including:
- Manufacturers, installers, operators and designers
- Policymakers, regulators and local authorities
- Certification, accreditation, and training bodies
- Consumer groups and trade associations
- Technology developers
- Energy sector decarbonization and net zero experts
- Built environment experts
