July 2020
Starting from:
£99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will assess next steps for developing heat networks in the UK - looking at market development, investment, infrastructure and the future of policy and regulation.
We also expect discussion to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to look ahead at priorities for ensuring that recovery strategies incorporate climate action and renewable energy, including:
- supporting the industry and its workforce as it adapts to new ways of working, evolving guidelines and consumer protection measures, and the economic impact of COVID-19,
- employment, working practices and the Government’s policy response,
- learning that can be taken forward from the way stakeholders have innovated and adapted to the crisis, and
- the ways to include improving domestic energy efficiency into green recovery strategies going forward.
The discussion in detail:
Developing the market and delivering the policy guidance that the sector needs, as well as:
- reducing market complexity, fostering competition, and bringing district heating supply into established energy markets with a level playing field
- improving transparency and reducing barriers to entry and reducing developer risk
- developing sector standardisation
- encouraging sharing of best practice and local collaboration
- supporting industry recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
Investment and building investor confidence, as well as:
- reducing administrative costs and delivery barriers
- developing the business case and setting clear roles for sector stakeholders
- the extended Heat Networks Investment Project and securing long-term private investment in district heating
Regulation and what a fit-for-purpose regulated system looks like, including:
- ensuring that consumers are protected and treated fairly - contract transparency, quality standards, supplier conduct, equivalence with other utility regulation, and consumer protection measures during the COVID-19 pandemic
- creating quality design standards for existing and new build housing stock, including in privately rented accommodation
- voluntary and independent heat sector standards - lessons learnt, and the feasibility of translating rules on developer and supplier responsibilities to a national scale
Infrastructure - and overcoming the physical challenges around the delivery of heat infrastructure, looking at:
- working with local stakeholders to integrate infrastructure systems and connect dwellings, as well as to reduce delivery and material costs
- connecting old housing stock to district heating systems, and steps for decarbonising existing buildings through retrofitting
Making fuel supply low-carbon, looking at:
- investment
- switching to hydrogen and biomethane
- the role of energy suppliers in transition
- the potential impact on consumer bills
Why this is relevant: the context:
- Announcements in the Budget of further support affecting heat networks and decarbonised heating, including:
- extension of the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) by a year to 2022, and an additional £270m of funding to support new projects
- introduction of a Low Carbon Heat Support Scheme to accelerate delivery of heat pumps and biomass boilers
- creation of Green Gas Levy to support the use of greener fuels like biomethane across the gas grid
- The Government’s recently released consultation on designing a heat networks market framework, which identifies multiple pathways for fostering sector growth - including:
- legislative changes to enable developers the same rights shared by other utility providers
- improving the reputation of the sector by leveraging public and private project investment and building cross-sector engagement
The agenda:
- Policy priorities for developing UK heat networks - setting guidance, funding support, and establishing industry confidence
- Supporting a sustainable pathway for heat networks - encouraging investment, reducing market uncertainty, decarbonising heat supply, and overcoming challenges
- Next steps for connecting households to the heat system, reducing consumer bills, and innovating low-carbon heat
- Creating a long-term competitive heat market - priorities for infrastructure, improving cost efficiency, local engagement, and reducing barriers
- Establishing an effective regulatory framework for heat networks in the UK:
- Setting codes and standards for heat consumers, and steps for applying into a regulated model
- Establishing transparency, expectations for consumer quality, and stakeholder accountability
- Designing appropriate regulation - standards, customer protection, and alignment with other utility markets
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
This one’s no different. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords and the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology, and officials from MHCLG; Ofgem; BEIS; Defra; the Cabinet Office; the Environment Agency; Homes England; the Health and Safety Executive; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the National Audit Office; the Department for the Economy NI; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
