Plus Dane has secured £43,000 to support two studies that will support capital grant applications later this year.
The funding is part of a £3.5m funding pot which has been awarded in Round 4 of the Government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) to 20 organisations across England and Wales.
The funding aims to improve the performance of heat networks, so they provide better services to their customers, increased efficiency and reduced energy costs.
This latest announcement will positively impact 25 heat networks across England and Wales, benefiting 5,700 residents, including students, hospital patients, and other private and public sector occupants. This brings the total funding awarded under HNES to over £28m.
Capital grant funding will result in annual carbon savings of over 422 tCO2e per year over the next 40 years, equivalent to removing the annual emissions of 172 diesel-powered cars.
Plus Dane is among the first recipients, with an award of £43,000 from HNES for the Brunswick Street Estate and Conwy Court heat networks. The funding will finance two improvement reports that would see benefits for 140 homes if future capital grant funding is successful.
Future funding based on the report findings will enable improvements to the network’s efficiency levels. HNES support aims to reduce heat losses, providing greater comfort and improved resilience, particularly for low income, vulnerable residents and those at risk of fuel poverty.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, welcomed the latest HNES funding announcement: “Customers living on heat networks need to get the regular, reliable heating and hot water they are entitled to. This important funding will help upgrade inefficient systems, preventing breakdowns and using less energy, while allowing customers to reduce their energy bills and keep their homes warm.”
Chris Roberts, Sustainability Manager, at Plus Dane, said: “We are delighted that we have secured this funding which will fund robust studies at Brunswick and Conwy. The subsequent reports will then steer our capital grant applications later this year.
