Overview

A vital contributor to reducing carbon, a heat network – also known as district heating – is a distribution system of insulated pipes that takes heat from a central source and delivers it to a number of domestic or non-domestic buildings.

Our market-leading lawyers have built a reputation advising on innovative, ground-breaking projects, helping to develop commercial solutions that support the development and delivery of clean heat projects, driving this rapidly evolving market.

We are at the forefront of the latest regulatory developments which will affect clean heat projects for years to come and help our clients to ensure their projects are delivered efficiently and future-proofed as far as possible.

This is now more critical than ever as the regulation of heat networks and the implementation of zoning by the Energy Act 2023 is in process and will provide a major boost to the deployment of clean heat by underpinning demand and unlocking large-scale private sector investment

Area of focus

Our clean heat specialists have a proven track record advising on the following:

  • Delivery models and procurement strategies
  • Compliance issues
  • Project development and delivery (transaction documents)
  • Regulation, including the implications of heat network zoning
  • Funding
  • Secondary market transactions, mergers & acquisitions and refinancing.
Experience

Advising the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on route to market aspects of the Heat Networks Transformation Programme for area-wide delivery of heat networks in heat network zones.

Working with Worthing Borough Council to deliver a low-carbon heat network for Worthing using an innovative, evergreen, corporate concession model.

Advising Bristol City Council on all elements of the Bristol City Leap which aims to create a single interconnected, city-wide Bristol Heat Network.

Acting for The Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) to develop a large ambient loop heat network using heat recovered from several large data centres to serve buildings within a 650+ hectare site in west London.

Advising the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as project sponsor on project SWAN, an area-wide heat network serving south Westminster.

Working with Aecom and Asteros Advisers to provide advice to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in respect of the City Decarbonisation Delivery Project.

Advising network operators/ESCos, including Engie/Equans, in connection with day-to-day operational issues as well as on strategic operational issues.

Advising heat offtakers, including Bristol University in relation to network connection and heat supply agreements for the proposed connection to a heat network at a number of campus locations, including the new Temple Quarter development and Marks & Spencer plc in relation to heat supply arrangements for a number of new stores.

Advising on privately developed heat schemes, including advising Estover Energy on the development of the Speyside, Cramlington and Kent biomass CHP projects, including advising on multiple industrial heat supply agreements and private wire electricity supplies and advising Mersey Bioenergy Ltd on fuel supply and power and heat offtake arrangements for the 20.2 MWe and 7.8 MWth Widnes CHP plant.

Meet the team
Headshot of Charles Robson

Charles Robson Director

  • Energy & Utilities
  • Renewable Energy
  • Climate Change and Carbon Law
Emma Andrews

Emma Andrews Director

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Renewable Energy
  • Waste and Resource Management
James Horton

James Horton Partner

  • Construction and Engineering
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Infrastructure
Nick Churchward

Nick Churchward Partner

  • Head of Resource and Waste Management
  • Projects
  • Energy and Utilities
Nia Stewart profile image

Nia Stewart Director

  • Construction and Engineering
  • Public Sector
  • Education
John Houlden

John Houlden Partner

  • Head of Public Sector
  • Head of Procurement and Subsidy Control
  • Projects
Punim Anda

Punim Anda Director

  • Projects
  • Commercial
  • Procurement and State Aid
Victoria Allsopp

Victoria Allsopp Partner

  • Banking and Finance
  • Renewables
  • Energy, Power and Utilities
Alison Logan

Alison Logan Senior Associate

  • Banking and Finance
  • Project Finance
  • Real Estate Finance
Euan Bremner

Euan Bremner Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Scottish Real Estate
  • Head of Northern Irish Real Estate
Rosamond Harris

Rosamond Harris Partner

  • Renewable Energy 
  • Real Estate Services
  • Real Estate Development
Frederick Davies

Frederick Davies Associate

  • Projects
  • Energy and Utilities
  • On-site Supply, Energy Services and ESCOs

What others say...

They are fully on top of the factual detail and legal issues but without ever losing sight of the reality of what the client needs to get out of this process.

Chambers UK 2023

Key contact

Headshot of Charles Robson

Charles Robson Director

  • Energy & Utilities
  • Renewable Energy
  • Climate Change and Carbon Law

Getting to Net Zero report: The potential for heat networks in our communities

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