New manual published to promote decentralised energy schemes in London
13 February 2013
by Richard Forster
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has published a new set of guidelines to support the delivery of decentralised energy schemes in the city. The District Heating Manual for London provides practical guidance for developers, network designers and planners with the aim of creating a consistent framework for delivering efficient, interconnecting, district heating networks.“We want district heat networks operating as part of a decentralised energy system to become more common-place in London and there is already a significant uplift, supporting new jobs and economic growth,” said Matthew Pencharz, the Mayor’s environment advisor.
The document, developed in collaboration with Arup, an independent firm of technical specialists, supports a range of initiatives provided by City Hall to promote the mayor’s target to achieve 25 percent of London’s energy supply from decentralised energy sources by 2025.
“The Mayor is demanding ambitious targets in the capital to create a more resilient, localised and efficient energy supply,” said Pencharz. “This will ensure we meet the twin challenges of cutting carbon and being fully prepared for the demands coming from London’s predicted population boom. A cost effective and sustainable energy supply also underpins London’s attractiveness for investors and businesses.”
London is experiencing a significant uplift in decentralised energy schemes with City Hall currently supporting the delivery of schemes valued at more than £300 million where the principles of the manual are being applied. This is helping to support a growth in the sector including employment and infrastructure investment in the London.
Demand for electricity in the capital is expected to grow by up to 4 percent a year over the next decade as the city grows. The manual, the first of its kind in the UK, is designed to be a ‘live’ document that will be updated, with feedback being encouraged in time for the next revision to be published this summer. To download the document see: http://www.londonheatmap.org.uk/Content/Manual.aspx
