Last month the Government announced a new commitment of £65 million to support the delivery of five new heat network projects as part of wider plans to continue to grow the £80 billion investment opportunity into this low carbon energy solution by 2050.

The Government's backing for the projects should come as little surprise. There are more than 12,000 heat networks already in the UK, providing heating and hot water to approximately 480,000 consumers. And while the technology isn't entirely new – networks have been implemented sporadically since the 1960s – it represents one of the most important solutions for decarbonising cities and public sector estates at scale.