Residents are set to benefit from funding to improve heat network efficiency

FirstPort applied to the HNES to improve the efficiency of the heat network at Victory Pier in Gillingham, Kent (pictured) and the development was selected to receive funding in November 2023, which is now in its second round.

The funding will support a study into the development’s heating system’s performance, which will provide learnings that can be rolled out across all FirstPort sites that have this type of system within communal areas.

There is also an opportunity for other FirstPort developments to take part in the study, and receive direct funding, if the outputs from the Victory Pier study proves effective.

Stuart Wilcox, Head of Building Asset Management at FirstPort, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding which will directly benefit our customers living in developments with Heat Network Systems. The rising cost of gas, coupled with the cost of living overall has put huge pressure on households’ finances. We hope to be able to learn important lessons from the study at Victory Pier that can help more residents, by ensuring our heat networks are as efficient and cost effective as possible.”

Louise Singleton, Principal Consultant at Gemserv, said: “We are delighted to be awarding funding from HNES to FirstPort to assess the performance of their heat network. Revenue grant funding helps to identify outdated systems and infrastructure, analysing the potential avenues for efficiency improvements. Funding provided to FirstPort in Round 2 will enable an optimisation study of the Victory Pier heat network, identifying how almost 500 residents across the development can benefit from more efficient heating and lower energy bills.”