District Heating: Part of our decarbonised future

A heat network distributes heat from a central source to buildings via a network of pipes. A network can operate across a whole city, a street, or a single building. Currently, only around 2% of the UK’s heat is from district heating, but the Net Zero 2050 plan estimates that we need to raise that to 20%.

So, engineers and installers involved in heating systems for homes or commercial buildings should expect to see a lot more heat networks (or district heatings as it’s also known), particularly in urban centers.

While many heat networks have traditionally made use of gas boilers or CHP (Combined Heat and Power) units as their source of heat energy, there is a growing shift to renewable sources. For example, the Leeds network uses heat and energy recovered from non-recyclable waste to serve 2,000 homes and other buildings.

In fact, one of the benefits of district heating systems is that it is relatively straightforward to swap the heat source from a fossil fuel such as gas to a more environmentally friendly option. It allows for more rapid decarbonisation than attempting to change over individual dwellings and buildings.

And we are already seeing the development of heat networks that make use of low-carbon heat pumps. These are referred to as ‘ambient loops’ as they operate at much lower temperatures than traditional systems (25°c rather than around 60°c).

The ‘loop’ can use a heat pump as a central source of low-temperature water. This could be a modern air source heat pump or one that makes use of a local water source such as a river. If an ambient loop is used in a simple apartment building, for example, each flat has its own heat pump that raises the temperature of the incoming water sufficiently to provide both heating and domestic hot water. By combining the heat network approach with heat pump technology, carbon savings are enhanced.

What’s more, the ambient loop principle can be applied in mixed-use buildings or projects. Heat rejected from cooling systems, such as VRF, in nearby offices or retail outlets can be enhanced by heat pump technology to provide heating and hot water to homes on the same ambient loop. So heat that would normally be rejected by a building can be re-used.

The drive to decarbonisation requires new thinking and new approaches to our heating technology. District heating and heat networks combined with heat pumps are the latest approach that is already being applied in buildings. As a result, heating is undergoing something of a quiet revolution.

At Brymec, we know that keeping up with these developments can be challenging. But our in-house experts are here to help with advice from the design stage all the way to selection of equipment.

We have also been developing our own range of products, designed to make timely and efficient installation more achievable. One example is our press-fit range which are available in a a variety of popular sizes, unique press indicator and protective dust caps. The press-fit system allows installers to work more efficiently and reduce the likelihood of leaks.

As the UK moves to tackle the significant challenge of decarbonising heating, increasingly busy designers and installers will want o know the products they need will be available. By manufacturing our own product range, Brymec can give customers a very clear view on availability, which offers peace of mind in these days of uncertain supplies.