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New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Regulatory support boosts district heating networks
17/9/2025
8 min read
Feature
A wave of new district heating projects across the UK and Europe are coming online or being advanced on the back of a new impetus by regulators. Nnamdi Anyadike reports.
In line with its climate policy, the European Union (EU) is seeking to push growth in urban district heating. A key vehicle for this is the work being done by the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. This is a group of mayors in European cities and local authorities that are committed to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
The Covenant has been working since 2008 in support of over 11,000 European cities and local authorities to develop and implement Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), which include the promotion of district heating schemes. In June 2025, the EU’s Joint Research Centre rolled out new guidance to the Covenant for more effective climate change action on heating.
UK rolls out heat network zones
Meanwhile, the UK, led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), is rolling out heat network zoning. Some 28 pilot zones have been identified and £5.8mn has been allocated to six key areas. Projects announced include 1Energy’s plan to develop a low-carbon heat network in Oxford. Working together with Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership (ZCOP), Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford, the company’s aim is to eventually reduce the city’s gas demand by by 10%.