The Council of the Isles of Scilly has been awarded guidance and funding of £123,950 to investigate the potential for a Heat Network on the islands.
Heat networks transport hot water or steam via insulated pipework to multiple properties. By using a central supply, the heat can often be generated more efficiently than is possible through separate heating systems in individual properties. In the Isles of Scilly a heat network could provide opportunities such as generating energy from waste to reduce the cost of shipping waste to the mainland. The resulting heat would be delivered to customers such as the school, hospital, wellbeing centre and new housing developments such as the planned site at Carn Thomas.
The government grant is from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It will pay for exploratory work including heat-mapping and surveying in order to assess the feasibility of building and operating a heat network on Scilly. Work on the project is starting immediately.
Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property Baroness Neville-Rolfe said: “It is very encouraging to see the plans the Council of the Isles of Scilly has to harness the power of low carbon technology to bring bills down for local residents. Heat networks can bring warmer, greener heating to our towns and cities. That is why the government is supporting the Council of the Isles of Scilly to help them use their local infrastructure to give bill payers more for their money.”
The council applied for heat network funding as part of the Smart Islands programme on Scilly, which aims to deliver:
- 20% reductions in Electricity Bills by 2020 (40% by 2025)
- 40% of energy demand met from renewable sources by 2025
- 40% of island vehicles are low carbon or electric by 2025,
- Internships, cultural exchange & STEM skill delivery for young people,
- Full programme of energy efficiency delivered by 2020.
As well as targeting energy improvements the programme will address the challenges the islands have in producing clean water, managing waste, treating sewage and providing low-carbon transport options.
The Smart Islands Partnership comprises local and multinational organisations who are working together to use funding from regional, national and European schemes to develop projects that will meet the goals above. The founding Smart Islands partners are the Council of the Isles of Scilly, the Duchy of Cornwall, Tresco Estates, Hitachi Europe and the Islands Business & Tourism Partnership.
The Council’s Chairman Amanda Martin said: “The Heat Networks Delivery Unit is evidence that the government is working smartly to reduce costs for communities by encouraging innovation and shared infrastructure. We’re delighted to receive this funding – it will play an important part in delivering on the ambitious targets of the Smart Islands programme.”
More information about the funding and other successful authorities is available at the following page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-networks-funding-stream-....