Draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan

Overview

Read the consultation paper

This draft heat networks delivery plan sets out how the provisions of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021, and related policies, will contribute to increased heat networks across Scotland. It also outlines the proposed regulatory regime for the heat networks sector in Scotland.

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 introduces regulation of the heat network sector, to support increasing deployment of heat networks across Scotland. The Act commits Scottish Ministers to publishing a heat networks delivery plan by 1 April 2022, to outline how provisions within the Act and supporting policies will lead to an increase in heat networks, helping us meet our ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Heat networks, as defined under the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021, include both district and communal heating:

• a district heat network is defined as a network by which thermal energy is distributed from one or more sources of production to more than one building 
• a communal heating system is a system by which thermal energy is distributed from one or more sources of production to one building comprising more than one building unit

Heat networks can provide heating, cooling, or steam for industrial processes.

Why your views matter

This draft document offers a series of proposals and seeks feedback throughout, which will be used to produce the final heat networks delivery plan.

Please note that some questions within this consultation ask for any relevant evidence which you may have. If when providing evidence you refer to any documents which are not public, please provide these at the end of the consultation (question 23).

What happens next

Following the consultation we will analyse the responses received and publish the Scottish Government's response. Responses to this consultation will inform the final Heat Networks Delivery Plan, to be published by 1 April 2022.