UK government invests £90m in low-carbon heating networks for 750,000 homes

The UK government has committed £90 million (about $119 million) to expand low-carbon district heating across England and Wales, with the aim of connecting more than 750,000 homes. The biggest project is a £41 million river-based heat scheme along the Thames in London, which would use electric barges to move heated water through a tunnel and initially supply 650,000 homes. There is also funding for networks in Bexley, Greenwich, Marble Arch, Bradford, and Solihull. Another £13.3 million goes to fixing 76 existing networks that leak heat, including pipe repairs, insulation, and new heat interface units. The article points to a Brighton block that cut natural gas use by 50% after a £200,000 grant, saving residents around £438 per year. The mix of new build and retrofit spending is worth watching, because the retrofit side often delivers faster carbon savings per pound.