If granted, the funding will help refine the project’s detailed plans and subsidise what is expected to be a £53 million development, potentially operational by 2029.
Hounslow is moving closer to a greener future as the council takes the next step in developing a pioneering heat network that could significantly cut carbon emissions. The initiative, which aims to harness heat from treated water at Mogden Sewage Works in Isleworth, has received approval to apply for up to £11 million in funding from the Green Heat Network Fund.
If granted, the funding will help refine the project’s detailed plans and subsidise what is expected to be a £53 million development, potentially operational by 2029. The Hounslow Heat Network would extract heat from water that is typically around 20°C when discharged from the treatment process. Using a heat pump system, this energy would be transferred into clean water and distributed through insulated underground pipes to buildings across the borough.
The scheme is set to initially supply heat to 30 major buildings, including West Middlesex Hospital, public buildings, offices, and large residential blocks. By replacing gas boilers with heat exchangers connected to the network, carbon emissions could be slashed by up to 75%, while also reducing nitrous oxide pollution, a major contributor to respiratory issues. Additionally, the process would result in cooler water being discharged into the River Thames, benefiting the local environment.
Hounslow’s Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment & Transport, Councillor Katherine Dunne, welcomed the decision as a crucial step toward achieving the borough’s climate goals.
“Many buildings still rely on gas, which not only harms the environment but also exposes us to unpredictable price spikes,” she said. “This heat network is a tried and tested solution, widely used in Scandinavia, and it represents the lowest-cost option for low-carbon heating. While it’s too early to say if it will lead to lower energy bills, it should provide some protection against the extreme fluctuations we’ve seen in recent years.”
Looking ahead, the council hopes to expand the heat network to other areas in the borough, reinforcing its commitment to cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.
