After campaigning for the development of industry-wide standards for district heating networks in the UK, Mark Whettall, managing director of CPV Ltd, is calling upon his industry colleagues to ensure that they fully engage with the consultation process set by the recently-published draft Code of Practice by the Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA) and CIBSE.
The new draft Code of Practice has been developed by a group of industry experts under a joint initiative between CIBSE and the CHPA. District heating networks have now been identified by the Government as a technology which can help decarbonise UK heating supplies and recent research has identified a potential 14 percent of the UK’s heating needs being met this way by 2030.
“To reach this predicted share of the heat market from current levels of around one to two percent, significant network development will be required and we’re already seeing a big upturn in activity levels, with many new companies entering the sector” said Mr Whettall. “It’s essential that new heat networks are designed, constructed and maintained within a quality standard that ensures reliable and efficient operation and this new Code of Practice sets out a framework under which this can develop successfully – evolving as the market matures.”
Mr Whetall urged all stakeholders, including developers, councils, contractors, manufacturers and designers, to engage with the consultation process.
“It’s critical that we all have some level of involvement and therefore a degree of ownership” Mr Whettall continued. “A lot of organisations were represented in the CHPA and CIBSE working group, but there’s many more out there that need to ensure that their views are represented.”
Mr Whettall believes it is vital for all stakeholders in the industry to work together in order that the heat networks sector can increase its role in efficiently and reliably delivering heat to consumers – whether they are domestic, industrial or commercial. The initiative must succeed if the sector is to meet the challenges ahead as it scales up to increase its share of the heat market. The consultation period ends on the 9th October 2014.
For additional information:
Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA)
