UK Power Networks is seeking a multi-occupancy building with a communal heating system in London, the South East, or East of England to participate in a Heatropolis, a flagship innovation project on decarbonising heat.
Heatropolis is exploring how smart heat networks can be integrated into a more flexible and resilient net zero energy system. Sites already participating include the King’s Cross heat network, where new heat pumps and thermal storage are already helping to decarbonise heating for hundreds of properties.
As part of the project, the consortium is exploring how thermal storage and smart controls can help manage demand in low-carbon heating systems for multi-occupancy buildings. To support this, the project aims to fund the installation of low-carbon heating assets in a suitable building within the areas UK Power Networks serves.
Funding of up to £375,000 is available to support the installation of a low-carbon communal heating system. This may include a high-capacity heat pump, additional thermal storage and advanced control technologies to improve system performance and capacity. The funding is intended to build on an existing decarbonisation plan and deliver a solution that is both cost-effective and grid-friendly.
The selected building will participate in three winter trials over the course of three years. These trials will involve monitoring and controlling heating devices to demonstrate the flexibility of heat networks. In the first trial (winter 2025/26), the goal will be to monitor heat demand and establish a baseline — full decarbonisation is not required at this stage. By the second trial (winter 2026/27), the heating system should be largely or fully decarbonised. The building must remain available for ongoing monitoring, control and resident engagement throughout the winter periods of 2025/26, 2026/27, and 2027/28.
Heatropolis is an innovation project led by UK Power Networks and funded by Ofgem through the Strategic Innovation Fund. The project is being run with partners including Metropolitan, Guidehouse and Passiv UK.
For more details about this funding opportunity or if you have any questions, please contact hannah.berry@passivuk.com.
You can read more about the Heatropolis project at innovation.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/projects/heatropolis.