Statement - heat feasibility studies
Islington Council is undertaking two studies to determine the feasibility of supplying lower cost and lower carbon heat, from the Regent’s Canal and waste heat from a computer data centre, to the Bunhill Heat Network. The network currently supplies heat to 850 homes and two leisure centres in the south of Islington. These studies are fully funded by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) after the council was announced as a winner in the Heat Network Demonstration SBRI competition. The studies shall be completed by the end of March 2015, and if found viable may be awarded further funding towards demonstration projects.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “Islington’s pioneering Bunhill Heat Network is already cutting energy bills for local residents and providing cheaper, greener heat to hundreds of local homes.
“With this funding, we will explore if it is feasible to capture waste heat from nearby local sources – the Regent’s Canal and a computer data centre – and use it to help heat local homes.
“It’s very early days for this innovative project, and we look forward to seeing the results of this feasibility study later this year.”
NOTES:
Naturally occurring heat from the Regent’s Canal and waste heat from a computer datacentre are forms of what are known as ‘secondary’ heat sources.
The canal is heated through the year by the sun. It could be possible to capture the heat, upgrade it to 70C or more using a heat pump, and supply it to the local heat network to heat local homes. The Drammen District Heating in Norway is a large scale working example of such a scheme (http://www.ehpa.org/technology/best-practices/large-heat-pumps/drammen-district-heating-norway/).
In addition to these two feasibility studies, the council is also developing the Celsius project for capturing waste heat from London Underground tunnels and an electrical substation, upgrading this heat utilising heat pump technology, and supplying it to Bunhill Heat Network. The Celsius project is a partnership between Islington council, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, UK Power Networks and Transport for London / London Underground. For more information please see: http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/news-events/news-releases/2013/11/Pages/PR5021.aspx
The GLA’s Secondary Heat Study provides information on these heat source opportunities and the technologies involved:
https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/publications/secondary-heat-study-london-s-zero-carbon-energy-resource
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “Islington’s pioneering Bunhill Heat Network is already cutting energy bills for local residents and providing cheaper, greener heat to hundreds of local homes.
“With this funding, we will explore if it is feasible to capture waste heat from nearby local sources – the Regent’s Canal and a computer data centre – and use it to help heat local homes.
“It’s very early days for this innovative project, and we look forward to seeing the results of this feasibility study later this year.”
NOTES:
Naturally occurring heat from the Regent’s Canal and waste heat from a computer datacentre are forms of what are known as ‘secondary’ heat sources.
The canal is heated through the year by the sun. It could be possible to capture the heat, upgrade it to 70C or more using a heat pump, and supply it to the local heat network to heat local homes. The Drammen District Heating in Norway is a large scale working example of such a scheme (http://www.ehpa.org/technology/best-practices/large-heat-pumps/drammen-district-heating-norway/).
In addition to these two feasibility studies, the council is also developing the Celsius project for capturing waste heat from London Underground tunnels and an electrical substation, upgrading this heat utilising heat pump technology, and supplying it to Bunhill Heat Network. The Celsius project is a partnership between Islington council, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, UK Power Networks and Transport for London / London Underground. For more information please see: http://www.islington.gov.uk/islington/news-events/news-releases/2013/11/Pages/PR5021.aspx
The GLA’s Secondary Heat Study provides information on these heat source opportunities and the technologies involved:
https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/publications/secondary-heat-study-london-s-zero-carbon-energy-resource
Contact information
If you are a member of the public with a general question about the council please view the contact information on our website or call 020 7527 2000.