Heat Highways

Roadmap to Energy, Security & Net Zero

In the age of abundance, we’ve forgotten the old mantra of ‘waste not, want not’. If we desperately need clean, low-cost energy – why do we squander so much of what we already produce? Building solar parks and offshore wind farms might be exciting, but there’s a far more practical solution right under our noses: waste heat.

Data centres, power stations, factories, and wastewater treatment plants are just a few industries generating incredible amounts of excess heat that currently disappears into the ether.

With existing technologies, heat utilities can establish inter-city heat transmission highways to capture and store this surplus heat, delivering it when needed to the UK’s 17,000 heat networks.

Harvesting Heat Using Heat Highways
Play Video about 0:03 / 2:40 Harvesting Heat Using Heat Highways

Heat Transmission Highways

Heat Highways can harvest commercial and industrial waste heat, heat from surplus renewable power generation, and freely available renewable heat from coal mines. This heat can then be transported to villages, towns, and cities, providing a sustainable and efficient solution for heating needs.

By transporting low-cost, zero-carbon heat from areas of surplus to where it’s needed most, we have a powerful opportunity to build community wealth, create green jobs, and eliminate fuel poverty.

What is the most efficient method for storing renewable electricity?

During times of surplus or “waste” electricity production excess renewable energy can be stored efficiently as thermal energy in for example large pit storage facilities, abandoned quarries or mines.

Stored for days, weeks or even months at a time this heated water can be dispatched and distributed more widely using Heat Transmission Highways to supply surrounding regions with clean and affordable home heating.

Play Video about Excess Electricity to Thermal Storage

Excess Electricity to Thermal Storage

Videos

Eradicating Energy Waste with Heat Highways
Play Video about Eradicating Energy Waste with Heat Highways

Eradicating Energy Waste with Heat Highways

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Future Proofing Heat for Good

Future-Proofing Heat for a Greener Future
Play Video about Future-Proofing Heat for a Greener Future

Future-proofing Heat for a Greener Future

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Heat Highways & Green Grids

Cost Effectively Decarbonising our Cities
Play Video about Cost Effectively Decarbonising our Cities

Cost Effectively Decarbonising our Cities

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Future Proofing Heat from our Coal Mines

Future proofing Heat for Good with City Cooling Grids
Play Video about Future proofing Heat for Good with City Cooling Grids

City Cooling Grids

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Heat Highways: Scotland’s Fast Lane

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Future Proofing Heat for Mancunians

The East Lothian Question

Scotland’s East Lothian District epitomises the UK’s struggle to secure clean, affordable heating. But by scaling our ambitions and learning from Denmark’s use of waste heat, we can embed sustainability into the fabric of our urban planning. 

Can Scotland achieve Net Zero while dumping waste heat to atmosphere?

Future Proofing Manchester's Heating for Good!

Fuel poverty is at crisis levels and there’s a Net Zero target hurtling towards us. So why don’t we tap into the abundant, low-cost, zero carbon, waste heat we currently generate?

With the right mindset, Net Zero isn’t some insurmountable challenge; it’s an opportunity to make the North the UK’s green powerhouse.

Further Reading

Explore our library for more EnergiRaven documents.

Awards and Recognition

 

Attribution

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