Vital Energi JV to build £1bn heat network for Westminster

Aaron Morby 4 hours ago
Share

Plans have been unveiled to build the UK’s largest heat network capturing heat from the River Thames, London Underground and sewer networks to warm around 1,000 buildings in central London, including the Houses of Parliament.

Drawn up by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and consultant Aecom, the £1bn scheme will be delivered by a joint venture between leading players in the heat network market Vital Energi and Cumbria-based Hemiko.

Known as the South Westminster Area Network (SWAN), the phased project is expected to deliver first heat as early as 2026, with the network due to be entirely connected and complete by 2050.

The scale and complexity of the project makes it the most significant heat network scheme designed in the UK.

Buildings in the area served by the heat network could save 92 % of CO2 emissions compared to current levels and, by 2040, the scheme could help save Westminster 75,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, which is the equivalent to 1.2 million trees.

The network will stretch from Victoria Station up to Temple Underground Station near the Strand, bounded by St James’ Park and the River Thames.

Map of buildings to be hooked up to heat supply network in Westminster

Channa Karunaratne, head of heat networks at AECOM, said: “The size and ambition of SWAN demonstrate how to drive decarbonisation at a city-scale, and it is a trailblazer for how our cities can operate more sustainability.

“Westminster is one of the most recognisable locations in the world and through SWAN, the political engine of the UK is going to be supplied almost entirely with low-carbon heat for the first time.

“Since SWAN’s inception, we’ve worked in partnership with DESNZ to commercialise the scheme and accelerate private investment.

“Reaching today’s milestone with the appointment of Hemiko and Vital Energi is a proud moment for our team and an important step forward for this ambitious project that is helping to secure a low-carbon future for London.”

Toby Heysham, CEO of Hemiko and spokesperson for SWAN said: “Heat networks are the next big utility in the UK, and we are investing £1bn over the next 6 years into networks that will allow local people and businesses to make use of locally wasted heat.

“This network will be the flagship network in the UK, the first new zonal scale network in a market that offers an investment potential the size of the UK offshore wind industry. Steps like this show that the UK heat networks market is open for business.”

Aecom’s work has been supported by HermeticaBlack, specialists in the investment, development and asset management of net zero projects, and specialist infrastructure financial advisory firm Asteros Advisers.

 

Latest news

Multiplex tops October contracts league

£300m Glasgow Uni win tops big new orders
4 hours ago

Key industry rebar supplier loses fight to stop factory closure

Kent rebar facility supplying 30% of UK rebar set to close
4 hours ago

Vital Energi JV to build £1bn heat network for Westminster

Heat captured from the River Thames, Tube and sewers to warm Parliament
3 hours ago

Plans in for Birmingham 300-bed student scheme

China Quarter stepped project will rise to 15 storeys
4 hours ago

United Living looking to continue expansion

Record results as infrastructure and property spending flows
3 hours ago

Paralysed builder stranded on floor for six hours after fall

Court hears how contractor failed to properly plan housing job
4 hours ago

Network Rail scales back Liverpool Street station scheme

Architect changed and developer Sellar dropped as £1.5bn original plan scrapped
1 day ago

Muse JVs with pension fund insurer to build 3,000 homes

New Habiko business will build affordable low carbon, rental homes
1 day ago

£1.3bn revamp plan for South London shopping centre

Landsec plans 1,700 homes at Lewisham shopping complex site
1 day ago

Network Plus names new chief executive

Kevin Fowlie steps up to succeed founder Dan Holland
1 day ago

TanRo lands latest Clowes business park

Groundworks due to start in new year at 31-acre Harrier Park site
1 day ago

New consultant buys M&E specialist TACE

Contollo Group has ambitious growth plans over next five years
1 day ago

Skanska signs £197m deal for Mayfair offices job

South Molton job consists of two big office buildings
2 days ago

Cost of fixing unsafe cladding soars to over £16bn

Watchdog urges new 'hard target date' to complete all recladding works
2 days ago

Scottish Water opens bidding on £800m framework

Innovative ceramic membrane water treatment works programme
2 days ago

Carbon capture concrete hits London sites

Neustark and Aggregate Industries launch new technology to UK market
2 days ago

Six win £300m cladding retrofit deal

Major social landlord Riverside Group to reclad 22 towers
2 days ago

Winchmore lands brickwork package on Graham £80m academy

Alkerden Academy is one of the largest schools to be built in the region
2 days ago

Construction firms blast “true cost of Budget”

Firms fear tax hikes will lead to reduced hours and job cuts for staff
5 days ago

Steel bridge specialist sold to staff

Nusteel Structures Group becomes industry's latest Employee Owned Trust
5 days ago

Ex-Lendlease chief to lead Euston housing regeneration

Bek Seeley to head Euston Housing Delivery Group
5 days ago

Ardmore lands Kensington hotel revamp

Contractor to transform former Kensington Holiday Inn
5 days ago

RED wins £35m brace of projects in Bristol

Works include student halls and major facade fire safety remediation
5 days ago

Wates starts £300m Gartree super prison job

Early works start on 1,700-prison place job next to existing prison
6 days ago

Five road schemes worth £1.3bn axed

Still no decision on £1.5bn A66 upgrade or £9bn Lower Thames Crossing
7 days ago

Budget: Chancellor to fund HS2 tunnels to Euston

Schools and hospitals get extra £1.85bn cash injection to tackle work backlog
7 days ago

Skills card changes will mean fewer labourers

CSCS wants to cut the numbers with 500,000 labourer cards currently in circulation
6 days ago

Wates hires former ISG fit-out chief to lead new team

Lee Phillips to head up new London office fit-out arm
7 days ago

Major London offices to student rooms scheme approved

65 Fleet Street office block to be converted to 850-student rooms
6 days ago

M Group Services buys MEICA contractor BGEN

Warrington-based engineering contractor employs 1500 staff
6 days ago

Contractor services