Cumbrian Energy Revolution

Towards a Sustainable Cumbria

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District Heating

A district heating scheme comprises a network of insulated pipes used to deliver heat, in the form of hot water or steam, from the point of generation to end users. The heat is generated in a centralised location, often in a combined heat and power (CHP) station which also generates electricity. These CHP stations are often powered by gas but increasingly biomass, and heat-only boilers, geothermal heating and central solar heating are also used.

An integrated approach might use a range of heat options, including CHP, both gas and biomass-fired, in more built-up areas, but once district heating networks are established geothermal heat, waste heat from industrial processes, heat pumps using boreholes or rivers, solar heat, and so on can also be used.

For more information on District Heating see the Cumbria Action for Sustainability Factsheet.

Aberdeen district heating

One of four multi-storey blocks served by this CHP-District Heating scheme in Aberdeen with the boiler house in the foreground

Heat Mapping

Heat mapping (a spatial matching of potential supply with demand) has been highlighted as a key tool to encourage local planning authorities to maximise opportunities for local heat use. The Scottish Government funded a heat mapping pilot in the Highland Council area which was published in June 2011. The methodology used in the pilot was then replicated by other local authorities in order to help embed renewable energy at the centre of local strategic planning. Fife and Perth and Kinross councils have been using the methodology from the pilot to undertake mapping in their areas.(1)

A Scotland Heat Map is now being developed by the Scottish Government to identify the opportunities for efficient heat supply projects and support their development.(2)

Cumbrian local authorities could secure funding to carry out a County-wide heat mapping exercise and use the findings to develop a renewable heat strategy based on diverse technologies.

  1. Renewable Heat Action Plan 2011 Update, Scottish Government 2011
  2. Towards Decarbonising Heat: Maximising the Opportunities for Scotland. Draft Heat Generation Policy Statement, Scottish Government March 2014
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Renewable Heat Information

The Future of Heating: Meeting the Challenge, DECC March 2013.

Towards Decarbonising Heat: Maximising the Opportunities for Scotland: Draft Heat Generation Policy Statement for Consultation, March 2014

The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) Scotland Forum response to the Scottish Government’s draft renewable heat energy policy statement consultation. It broadly welcomes the draft policy and encourages the Scottish Government to be even bolder.

The Combined Heat and Power Association is the leading advocate of an integrated approach to delivering energy services using combined heat and power and district heating.

Building a roadmap for heat: 2050 scenarios and heat delivery in the UK, Jamie Spiers et al. University of Surrey and Imperial College, London. CHPA February 2010.

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