Apply for the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) Round 1

The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) willprovides provide funding to public, private and third sector applicants in England and Wales to support improvements to existing district heating or communal heating projects that are operating sub-optimally and resulting in poor outcomes for customers and operators.

It is a £32 million grant support programme spanning 2023-2024 (Year 1) and 2024-2025 (Year 2).

Eligibility

ItThe opensHNES is open to applicantsorganisations in February 2023, and follows on from the HNESpublic, Demonstratorprivate whichor ranthird fromsectors Octoberin 2021England toand March 2022.Wales.

How to apply

Read the application guidance for more information on how to prepare your application. The guidance provides information on:

• the application process
• eligibility criteria
• how applications will be scored and assessed
• the monitoring and reporting obligations for successful applicants

Contact hnes@gemserv.com to request an application form.

Submit your applications for HNES Round 1 by 31 March 2023.

Register for news updates

If you want to be added to the HNES mailing list and receive scheme announcements and news updates, please contact hnes@gemserv.com.

Guidance

We have produced a series of guidance videos which set out practical steps that heat network operators can take to improve the performance of their systems under HNES.

Background

The HNES is a core element of the government’s Heat Network Transformation Programme (HNTP). It follows on from the HNES Demonstrator which ran from October 2021 to March 2022.

The HNES is led by our delivery partner, Gemserv, and supported by partners Ramboll, Lux Nova and Turner and Townsend. Find out more about the Delivery Partner and resources.

Find out more about Heat networks.

Further support for heat networks

Heat Networks Delivery Unit

The Heat Networks Delivery Unit (HNDU) provides support to local authorities in England and Wales through the early stages of heat network development, including:

• heat mapping
• energy master planning
• techno-economic feasibility
• detailed project development

Green Heat Network Fund

The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is a 3 year capital grant fund that supports:

• the commercialisation and construction of new low and zero carbon (LZC) heat networks (including the supply of cooling)
• the retrofitting and expansion of existing heat networks

It aims to develop and grow the heat network market and to address some of the challenges of decarbonising the UK’s heat sector.