We are pleased to confirm the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has appointed a consortium led by Talan (previously Gemserv) to deliver the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES).
The HNES is a grant funding scheme for existing district heating networks and communal heating systems that will offer £30m of capital grants to part-fund the installation of targeted and cost-effective performance improvement measures.
The scheme will also provide up to £2m of revenue funding for projects to carry out optimisation studies, identifying costed and cost-effective performance improvement measures.
The scheme is intended to launch in February 2023 and run until March 2025 with multiple funding rounds, the first of which will close towards the end of March 2023. As per the HNES Demonstrator, it is expected that the scheme will be open to public, private and third sector applicants.
Talan (previously Gemserv) will lead the delivery consortium alongside Ramboll, Turner & Townsend and Lux Nova.
Louise Singleton, Principal Consultant, Talan (previously Gemserv) explains: ‘We are delighted to be appointed as the Delivery Partner for HNES. Talan’s (previously Gemserv) experience managing the HNES Demonstrator, as well as the Heat Networks Investment Programme and Green Heat Network Fund as part of the Triple Point consortium, means we’re well placed to continue supporting BEIS in delivering their Heat Network Transformation Programme. We look forward to continuing to work with Ramboll and welcome Turner and Townsend and Lux Nova into the partnership, to support existing heat networks to improve both their performance and customer experience.’
John Mullen, Country Market Director – Energy, Ramboll highlighted: ‘I am so proud that Ramboll has been appointed with Talan (previously Gemserv) to support BEIS on the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme. This builds on our successful delivery of the development scheme, that has already benefited a large number of heat networks. Ramboll, through decades of experience working with heating projects across the globe, know the critical role district heating will play in the UK’s journey to NetZero. The HNES scheme supports another important step forward in this journey.’
Richard McWilliams, Director – Sustainability, Turner & Townsend emphasised: ‘We’re delighted to bring our retrofit expertise to the consortium delivering the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme. Existing heat networks are a significant opportunity for heat decarbonisation, playing an important role in the UK’s net zero future whilst tackling fuel poverty and delivering energy savings.’
Further details will be made available in December 2022 when BEIS plan to publish the scheme guidance and begin to hold engagement events.
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Gemserv rebranded to Talan on 30th June 2025.
