Areas of focus
Net zero, energy, heat networks.
Overview
Heat networks are systems that supply heat to multiple buildings at once from a central heating source using a network of underground pipes. They vary in size and can serve anything from a couple of buildings to an entire city. If a building is connected to a heat network, it no longer needs its own individual heating system such as a gas boiler or electric heaters. Heat networks will play a significant part in achieving Scotland’s net zero targets.
Since 30 May 2023, all local authorities have been required to identify, review, designate, and publish areas as Heat Network Zones; areas that are especially suitable for heat networks. This is to facilitate the development of heat networks by local authorities, private companies, or a community owned company/non-profit. This will be most relevant for urban areas because more densely populated areas are better suited for heat networks. These zones are identified from data that was collected during the creation of an LHEES, and from other sources including Building Assessment Reports, and usually exist in the form of a map.
Heat Network Zoning and Local Energy Plans
Heat Network Zoning will be most relevant for Local Energy Plans created for urban areas. When identifying areas as potential Heat Network Zones, local authorities must use data to see where a heat network could be feasible. They have the option to incorporate additional information to factor into their decision. If your Local Energy Plan discusses heat networks, such as indicating that people in a specific area are interested in connecting to a heat network, your local authority may use this to prioritise heat networks in that area over others. For example, your Local Energy Plan could include an action about raising awareness of heat networks in an area that the local authority has designated as suitable. Additionally, if your area is designated as a heat network zone, upgrading individual heating systems will be less of a priority, as you may be offered a connection to a heat network in the future as an alternative.
The establishment of a heat network could lead to opportunities for community investment, ie ownership of a proportion of a heat network, where profits can be reinvested into the community.
See ‘How local authority-led energy planning can help you create and update your Local Energy plan’ for an overview of the information available from Heat Network Zoning to inform your Local Energy Plan.
