District Heat Networks
Introduction
District heat networks are centralised heating systems that distribute thermal energy from a single source to multiple buildings through a network of insulated pipes. These networks can utilise various heat sources including combined heat and power plants, waste heat recovery, geothermal energy, and biomass boilers. By leveraging economies of scale and more efficient generation technologies, DHN’s aim to provide more sustainable and cost-effective heating solutions compared to individual building systems.
Published: May 2025
Contents
Welcome to the Quick Guide: District Heat Networks
This quick guide aims to introduce District Heat Networks (DHN) and address some common misconceptions about their use in domestic retrofit. The document has been designed to help Local Authority (LA) officers advise residents about low carbon heating and best practices.
Readers that would like this document in a more accessible format should contact rise@turntown.co.uk.