The role of heat networks in the energy transition

It’s a pleasure to be here with you today.   

Since I joined the department a year ago ADE have always been really helpful to me in understanding how this whole sector works and are a trusted and valued partner to the department and myself as we have worked our way through some of the issues in heat networks. 

For nearly 60 years, ADE has been championing decentralised energy systems and district heat.

And that partnership that I spoke about there is so valuable at this point in time, when these types of solutions are more needed.   

In July when the Prime Minister asked me to carry on in the department he asked me to carry on a new role as Minister for Local Energy and Jobs.  

Energy has always been a critical sector for this country – employing tens of thousands of people, driving and contributing to the country’s economy.  

And with this country now firmly in the midst of an energy transition, my focus is on making sure that every single part of the country benefits from this transition and feels the benefit.

Because when they see the benefits coming to their towns like lower bills, modern infrastructure, less pollution.

That’s when people see their role in this huge project of transition that we’re undertaking; it’s not something that’s happening to communities but building something for them.   

Prospects for the future that they can feel.   

The transition offers renewal for the whole country - if we get it right.   

That is precisely what this Government has set out to do.   

We are, and you’ll have heard the Prime Minister talking about this a lot over the last few months, we are setting out to reindustrialise this country.  

We are setting out to make energy more affordable.

And we are developing this process wherever possible so that local people can make the best decisions for their own communities.    

That is exactly why we are committed to the growth of the heat network industry.