Expanding London’s heat networks

Expanding London's heat networks

Energy for heating contributes to around 18 per cent of the UK's climate emissions.¹ Heat networks are less carbon-intensive because they offer shared and more efficient infrastructure and use low-carbon energy sources, or heat that is otherwise wasted.²

Heat networks use insulated underground pipes to distribute heat from centralised sources to a variety of different customers, such as public buildings, shops, offices, hospitals, universities, and homes."³

The government has committed to introducing a system of heat network 'zoning' for local areas. The first heat network zones in London were announced for Westminster and also the Old Oak Common and Park Royal area.⁴

Tomorrow, the London Assembly Environment Committee will continue its investigation into expanding heat networks across London, to understand the practical challenges involved in building and expanding low-carbon heat networks, and views on heat network zoning. It will also hear from 'waste heat' providers, including Energy from Waste (EfW) operators and datacentres, about what is needed to enable them to provide heat for heat networks.

The Committee will also speak to the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy about his recent trip to Brazil to attend the C40 World Mayors Summit, held ahead of the recent COP30 climate conference.

The guests are:

Panel 1 (2pm to 3pm):

• Antony Meanwell, UK Head of Heat Zone Development, E.on
• Ian Guest, Technical Director, Energetik
• Charlotte Owen, Growth Director, Hemiko

Panel 2 (3.05pm to 3.55pm):

• Simon Woodward, Business Development Manager, B&D Energy Ltd
• Charlotte Rule, Head of Climate and Energy Policy, Environmental Services Association (ESA)
• Luisa Cardani, Head of Data Centres Programme, Tech UK [joining remotely]
• Noah Nkonge, Heat Export Lead, Equinix

COP30 Update (from approximately 4pm to 4.30pm):

• Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 3 December 2025 from 2pm in Committee Rooms 2&3 at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

Follow us @LondonAssembly.

Notes to editors

1. NAO Decarbonising home heating March 2024
2. UK government Heat networks
3. UK government Heat network zoning: overview
4. Six towns and cities to pilot clean heating innovation - GOV.UK
5. Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview.
6. Find out more about the work of the Environment Committee.
7. Read the agenda in full.
8. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.