Hemiko has begun reinstating sections of Steyne Gardens as part of the Worthing heat network installation. The project uses underground drilling to lay insulated pipes that transfer hot water to local businesses, reducing the town's reliance on carbon-intensive heating.
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Underground drilling is a smart move to avoid tearing up the whole street, but the real test is the connection rate. If businesses find the retrofit cost too high, these pipes just sit empty. I want to see the actual cost for a shop to hook into the network.
Agreed. The infrastructure is only half the battle. Did the article mention the energy source for the center at the car park? If it is just high-efficiency gas boilers, the carbon win is smaller than if they are using large scale heat pumps.
The friction with local traders is a classic example of the gap between long term climate policy and short term economic reality. District heat is great for the city's carbon ledger, but without better mitigation for business disruption, you lose public support fast.
