Old Oak & Park Royal is one of the government’s first heat network zones, paving the way for England’s future sustainable energy solutions.
Announced as one of six designated heat network zones, Old Oak and Park Royal will be home to a new district heat network. The project, spearheaded by the Mayor of London’s development corporation, OPDC, will use pioneering innovative technology that draws waste heat from data centres to provide low-cost, low-carbon energy to over 10,000 new homes, businesses, and a major hospital.
The six selected towns and cities, including Leeds, Plymouth, Bristol, Stockport and
London is part of the government’s plan to accelerate the delivery of heat networks across England in areas where zones will likely be designated in the future. The learnings from these pilots will inform the work to reduce bills, enhance energy security, and achieve net zero by 2050.
OPDC’s new heat network will deliver 95GWh of heat across five phases between 2026 and 2040. The project was awarded £36m from the government’s Green Energy Heat Network Fund in November 2023, and procurement for a partner to help develop the network is now in the final stages. An announcement on the successful delivery partner is expected in early 2025.
In September, the corporation announced the acquisition of the site for the heat network’s energy centre in Park Royal. Before the site is transformed into the nerve centre for the new district heat network, OPDC uses the former warehouse building as a new circular economy hub, where small businesses recycle waste into new and valuable products, including film and TV sets, furniture and other household items.
OPDC’s district heat network will be in London’s largest Opportunity Area, benefitting new and existing communities living and working in the corporation’s planned new urban district. OPDC’s regeneration plans will see tens of thousands of new and affordable homes and 250,000m2 of commercial, retail and leisure development, high-quality public realm and community services and facilities surrounding HS2 and the Elizabeth Line at the new Old Oak Common Station.
David Lunts, OPDC chief executive, said:
“OPDC’s new district heat network was the first of its kind to secure GHNF support, and we are pleased to be leading the way in developing low carbon infrastructure, supporting current and future generations of Londoners in Old Oak and Park Royal to live more sustainably.
“It’s fantastic to be one of the country’s pioneering heat network zones, and we look forward to working closely with the government to support, develop and promote its plans to achieve net zero by 2050, playing a key role in helping to accelerate the delivery of heat networks across England.”
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