UK Power Networks’ Heatropolis project is using King’s Cross regeneration zone to decarbonise homes and buildings using clean energy.
The scheme is being led by UK Power Networks, with partners including Metropolitan, Passiv UK and Guidehouse, which will provide expertise as the project moves forward.
The four-year project is exploring how heat distribution systems can be designed to optimise the ways heat and electricity networks work together.
It will involve three winter trials through 2025 to 2027 across three key building models: a low-density residential heat network, a multi-occupancy building, and a large mixed-use site, with King’s Cross serving as the benchmark for the latter.
The former industrial site is one of the city’s largest redevelopments and is home to several major corporations, including Google, Meta and Universal Music.
It has also see the creation of public squares, parks, restaurants, homes, schools and a university. With more households converting to electric heating, Heatropolis aims to find solutions to manage additional demand on local electricity networks in the most cost-effective way.
In addition, it aims to reduce the costs of connecting and operating electrical heat networks by using ‘flexibility’ to help manage peaks and troughs in supply and demand.
The potential carbon savings are an estimated 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided through reduced electricity network reinforcement and a financial benefit of £70 million by 2050 from deferring or avoiding unnecessary grid upgrades.
Heatropolis is one of three UK Power Networks projects that secured Beta funding from the Strategic Innovation Fund, an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovate UK.
Luca Grella, head of Innovation at UK Power Networks, said:
“We are excited for the physical rollout of Heatropolis as it presents a unique opportunity to make sure the way we heat our homes and buildings is fit for the future.
“By integrating low-carbon technologies with advanced flexibility and control systems, we can significantly reduce peak demand on electricity networks, which will result in lower energy costs for consumers and contribute to a more sustainable energy future.”
Bruce Geldard, engineering director at Metropolitan which delivers low carbon heat, hot water and
cooling networks for new communities, said:
“We are delighted to take the next step in our partnership with UK Power Networks in the latest phase of the Heatropolis project. This collaboration is an exciting opportunity for Metropolitan to be able to further develop our work in delivery of sustainable, low-carbon heating solutions.
“Through this initiative, we are helping to create a blueprint for decarbonising and optimising
existing and new heat networks, driving forward the transformation of energy system across the
UK to meet our carbon reduction goals.”
