TPI March 2024

Business & market news

Pipeline boost required for district heating growth District heating is on the rise in the UK and FVB UK is taking part in several large-scale projects. The goal is for ten times as much district heating compared to the current level to be installed by 2050. The main driving force for this growing market is the environmental benefits of district heating. The British heating market mainly consists of heating homes individually with natural gas or oil, but stricter climate requirements are aimed at eliminating fossil fuel energy sources and switching to green alternatives, which is when district heating becomes interesting. “The first district heating systems were built in the UK in the 1950s, but due to a number of issued including poor design and installation their widespread use was not achieved, this was also coupled with the cheap fuel provided by North Sea gas. “District heating now accounts for only around two to three per cent of the heating market,” explained Peter Russett, CEO of FVB UK. “The target that’s been set now calls for district heating to account for 20 to 30 per cent of the country’s requirements by 2050. I’ve seen figures that show expanding the network of district heating pipes alone to meet the target is going to run into hundreds of kilometres of pipe. So there’s a lot that will have to be built over the next 30 years,” stated Mr Russett. Despite the low market share district heating has, there are already a lot of systems installed in the country, but they are often small scale and generally use natural gas as the fuel source. The systems built in recent years and those at the planning stage are increasingly using heat pump technology, with natural gas for peak loads or reserve fuel. The British government wants the district heating industry to decarbonise and support this through several initiatives, including financial support for feasibility studies and the conversion of projects to fossil-free fuels. The government is also behind The Green Heat Network Fund with aim of the fund being to support the commercialisation and construction of CO 2 -free district heating systems. The fund was established in 2022 and Peter Russet believes it will be crucial to the development of fossil-free heating in the UK. “It’s been very important since there has been so little private capital available for investments of this kind, but we have seen a change towards more commercial interest in district heating programmes,” he said. The increased interest in district heating is also evident to FVB, as we are now taking part in many more district heating projects after five years in the UK. “The UK business has grown dramatically in the last two years, and looks set to grow by as much again next year. And that’s thanks to orders from existing and new customers. “Personnel numbers in the UK are also growing, although we do call on our Swedish colleagues for help in peak periods and when we need expertise we do not have here,” added Mr

Plants & Equipment

Pipe & Tube Processing Technology

Bending & Forming Technology

Tube Manu facturing & Distribution

Tube Accessories

Profiles

Plastic Tubes & Pipes

join the best: 15–19 April 2024 The decision makers are at Tube 2024. Meet the world’s market leaders and pioneers from the world of pipes and tube processing. Expe rience innovations, leading future trends as well as new ways of promoting sustainability: tube.de/ecometals_en

International Tube and Pipe Trade Fair

Düsseldorf, Germany tube.de

Buy your eTicket now & save 20%*

*Compared to the regular price at our cash desks open each day on site.

International Trade Shows Link Ltd. Exhibition House, 12 Hockley Court

Russett. FVB UK www.fvb.se

Hockley Heath, Solihull West Midlands, B94 6NW

Tel 01564 781871 info@itsluk.com

122

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL March 2024 tub2402_Tube_Besucheranzeige_2024_mitText_87x260_INT_ICv2_IntrasMag.indd 1 15.11.23 13:28 15.11.23 13:28

www.read-tpi.com