What Is a Heat Network?

A heat network is an advanced system that distributes warmth from a single, central source to multiple homes and buildings. Instead of each property depending on its own gas boiler, a shared network utilises local sources of low-carbon heat that might otherwise go unused. These include:

• Ground, Air and Water: Harnessing natural thermal energy from the environment.
• Industrial By-Products: Capturing excess heat from factories, waste or other local processes.

Heat is transported efficiently through a network of underground pipes, delivering sustainable warmth while reducing both carbon emissions and air pollution.

14.03.25 – Updates
By 2050 all Shenstone residents need to be on electric or renewable heating to meet the UK governments legally binding net-zero carbon targets.

Current home heating carbon emissions for Shenstone are around double the UK average at 4.2 tonnes CO2 emissions per household.

Following an initial feasibility study Lichfield District Council and Shenstone Parish Council have commissioned decarbonisation experts HI Group to complete a detailed business case testing the
viability of a Heat Network for Shenstone. South Staffs Water is assisting with the project.:- Link to Update report

Lichfield District Council and Shenstone Parish Council have commissioned decarbonisation experts HI Group to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study into the viability of a heat network for Shenstone. The study will assess the potential for an ambient loop network that would tap into the aquifer beneath Shenstone to harness natural ambient heat. Link to Feasibility Study details