While 40% of the UK’s electricity is now produced renewably, it is proving significantly harder to decarbonise space heating. One important contribution to decarbonisation here will be heat networks, where businesses and homes can connect to a network that will transport heat and/or hot water from a central heat source or sources. These heat sources could be decarbonised, or be waste heat from incineration plants or data centres. Central Government will be bringing in ‘heat zones’ in the coming months; zones where heat networks are expected to offer the lowest-cost solution for decarbonising heat, which is expected to accelerate the development of this technology.

At the next meeting of the Innovative Zero Carbon Working Group, we will be discussing heat networks. As usual, we will hear more detail about the policy context for these nationally and locally, and we will hear from SWM member Hemiko, who are a leading provider of heat networks, about their work and innovation in this space.

10:00 Welcome from our Guest Chair and Host

Ellie Horwitch-Smith, Birmingham City Council

10:05 Heat Networks in the WMCA Area

Katie Treadwell, WMCA

10:20 Heat Networks – the Hemiko Offer

Rhea Marsden, Hemiko

10:35 Discussin

11:00 Comfort Break

11:10 Elsewhere in the Innovation Alliance

Pam Waddell, Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands

11:20 Smaller Scale Heat Networks

Allan Kayongo, Kensa

11:35 Discussion

11:45 Roundtable: collaboration and partnership opportunities

• You and your interest/offer/innovation/funding source

• Collaboration and partnership opportunities

• Good practice examples

• Help and support needed

Getting to the venue

The venue is the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre, at Tyseley Energy Park. Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre – University of Birmingham includes a map.

Public transport – 36 min from the city centre, buses X1 Platinum and X2 Platinum.

Cycling – 17 min from Birmingham New Street

Car – 12 min from Birmingham New Street