UK- The seaside town of Worthing in West Sussex has embarked on an ambitious journey to reduce its carbon footprint with the launch of the Worthing Heat Network. This project aims to provide climate-friendly heating to every building in the town by 2050, supported by an investment of up to £500 million from Hemiko, a renowned heat network investor, developer, and operator. This initiative is a beacon of positive climate action, especially at a time when 68% of local authorities express doubts about meeting their Net Zero targets, according to the Local Government Association.
Worthing Borough Council identified the Worthing Heat Network in its Carbon Neutral Plan as the most cost-effective and efficient way to decarbonise the town’s buildings. By partnering with Hemiko, the council has secured the necessary funding, expertise, and operational support to bring this vision to life. Heat networks work by collecting unused local heat, converting it into hot water, and distributing it to local users through a network of underground pipes. This system will allow connected buildings to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels for heating and hot water, achieving a reduction in heating emissions by around 90%.
At the heart of the initial Worthing Heat Network Energy Centre will be a heat pump system that collects heat from the air. Over time, the network will integrate more sources of locally available, wasted heat, enhancing its efficiency and sustainability. Currently, heat networks supply heat to approximately 3% of UK buildings, but projections indicate this will rise to at least 18% by 2050. In suitable locations, heat networks are about 40% cheaper than individual air source heat pumps, making them a viable and economical solution for large-scale decarbonisation.
The first phase of the network will primarily connect large public sector buildings, including Worthing Town Hall, Worthing Hospital, the Assembly Hall, Portland House, Worthing Museum & Art Gallery, and the Connaught Theatre. This phase alone is expected to save over 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The initial phase of the Worthing Heat Network received over £7 million in funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Heat Networks Investment Project. This funding unlocked a further £40 million investment from Hemiko, which plans to invest approximately £500 million by 2050 as the network expands. Construction is scheduled to commence in July 2024, with the first buildings expected to be connected by Summer 2025.
Hemiko’s involvement in the Worthing Heat Network is a testament to their expertise and commitment to rolling out low-carbon heat networks across the UK. This is Hemiko’s third project in West Sussex alone, and the company has plans to invest £1 billion into town- and city-wide low-carbon heat networks by 2030.
The Worthing Heat Network promises to be a transformative project, driving economic growth, job creation, and substantial carbon emission reductions in Worthing. With construction beginning in July 2024, the project marks a significant step toward a sustainable and carbon-neutral future for the town.