£72.7M plan to heat London landmarks with heat from Thames gets DESNZ backing

Plans to draw heat from the River Thames to warm cultural and academic landmarks on London’s South Bank have moved a step closer after the developer Hemiko secured government backing.

The company has been awarded £15.6M from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) Green Heat Network Fund to begin development of the Waterloo and South Bank Heat Network, a system of underground pipes that will deliver heat taken from the river by a water source heat pump to connected buildings. Organisations exploring connections include the BFI Southbank, Southbank Centre, National Theatre and King’s College London.

Hemiko said it will contribute £72.7M to the early stages of the scheme and that the first phase would create more than 200 jobs. The company anticipates the initial phase will cut about 22,000t of carbon each year and that NOx emissions from buildings that switch away from gas boilers could fall by as much as 72%.

The government has made heat networks a priority in recent months. In its Warm Homes Plan it pledged more than £1bn to support heat network development nationwide and set a target to double the share of heat demand met by networks over the next decade, with the aim of connecting more than 1M households to heat networks by 2035. Ministers say heat networks can offer lower bills for consumers and help reduce reliance on imported energy.

Extracting heat from rivers and other water bodies is a recognised route to decarbonising heating in dense urban areas because it provides a steady low-temperature heat source that can be upgraded by heat pumps. Campaigners and public health bodies have also pointed to the potential air quality benefits if buildings replace gas boilers: gas heating is now a leading source of nitrogen oxides in central London, pollutants linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

Hemiko, which invests in and operates heat networks across the UK, is also involved in other London projects including the Old Oak & Park Royal Energy Network and the South Westminster Area Network. The company says it plans to invest £1bn into town- and city-scale heat networks by 2030.

It has further said it is working with the Southbank Employers’ Group and other community partners to guide development and encourage connections from nearby businesses and institutions.

Hemiko chief executive Toby Heysham said: “There are few things that say ‘London’ quite like the River Thames does, so knowing that water from the Thames could soon heat some of the capital’s iconic buildings is such a wonderful, quintessentially London story.

“By developing the Waterloo and South Bank Heat Network now, we are unlocking a cheaper future for businesses and residents in the area.

“Our strategy is to develop heat networks in the most heat dense area, where the customers want and need to link together and get access to the locally available waste heat. We are offering both heat and cooling to homes and businesses in the area, using the amazing local resources and huge heat density in the area.

“We’re also working closely with local stakeholders to make sure the network benefits local arts, education and cultural initiatives by partnering on carbon literacy programmes that give people the knowledge and tools to reduce their carbon emissions.”

South Bank Employers Group chief executive Nic Durston said: “Along with our partners, South Bank Employers’ Group is committed to creating a fairer and greener neighbourhood for all and to supporting the transition to net zero.

“Heat networks have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at scale, strengthen local energy resilience and improve air quality.

“Through our South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us initiative we are working with our members and partners to realise these ambitions.”

King’s College London director of sustainability, estates & facilities Sara Kassam said: “King’s College London is excited to be exploring connection to the Waterloo and South Bank Heat Network as part of our commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions.

“This project aligns with our sustainability strategy and offers a tangible opportunity to reduce adverse environmental impact.

“By transitioning away from gas boilers and embracing low-carbon heat sourced from the River Thames, we are helping to shape a healthier, more resilient future for our university community and the wider city.”

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