Plans proposed to warm homes via waste heat

Central government have announced that in a UK first, houses are set to be heated by waste generated from computer data centres.

Last week UK authorities announced they were making almost £65m available to help support five new green energy projects across England that will help homes and businesses benefit from cleaner, low-cost heating.

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation in Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and Ealing will be the first of its kind to recycle waste heat from big computer systems storing internet data to supply heating for surrounding areas.

Supported by £36m in government funding, the heat network will connect 10,000 new homes and 250,000m2 of commercial space to a low-carbon energy source that will help to keep bills low and contribute to the UK’s drive to reach net zero by 2050.

Against this backdrop, support to heat properties in the capital city has been welcomed with open arms. Recent research has found London has become the most expensive place to live in the UK, with rents and bills continuing to skyrocket.

Following this, the capital city is also currently facing its worst homelessness crisis in decades.

The £36m project is one of five innovative green heating schemes in London, Watford, Suffolk, and Lancaster to receive funding from the Green Heat Network Fund.

Lancaster University are set to receive £21m in support for a new low-carbon heat network, which, will supply heat to the university campus using a large heat pump, powered by a new solar farm and existing wind turbine.

Lord Callanan, minister for energy efficiency and green finance, said: ‘Keeping homes warm with waste heat from technology is a glimpse into the future – and demonstrates just how innovative this country can be when it comes to reducing our carbon emissions.

‘The £65m we’ve awarded…will help spread this success across the country, by rolling out innovative low-carbon heating to help drive down energy bills and deliver our net zero goal.’

Image: ri

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