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The heat network market framework is introducing mandatory minimum technical standards supported by a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) to promote compliance. These technical standards build on existing industry led initiatives to ensure that heat networks are designed, built, and operated to a high standard.
This newsletter highlights some of the activities underway to ensure the new scheme is coordinated, works in practice, and aligns with industry expertise.
DESNZ has begun market engagement for three roles integral to operating the technical assurance scheme. Supplier engagement calls have been held for the Scheme Operator and the Training Provider, with a Certification Body supplier engagement call taking place on 13th May.
For more information, including on attending the May session, please follow the links below. Once the deadline for responding to a market engagement notice has passed, you can still get in touch with any queries by contacting the named contact on the notice or by emailing heatnetworks@energysecurity.gov.uk.
- The HNTAS Scheme Operator will be responsible for operating the scheme. Key responsibilities are likely to include keeping the technical and assessment requirements up to date, running HNTAS governance structures and managing an online digital service.
- The HNTAS Training Provider will be responsible for delivering HNTAS training courses. Many of these are being developed by a ‘Shadow Training Provider’. HNTAS will create new roles and job opportunities for the sector. The Training Provider will upskill people to fulfil these roles.
- The HNTAS Certification Body will be responsible for the certification process, utilising a group of HNTAS certifiers to undertake certification activities and award certificates to heat networks that have satisfactorily evidenced HNTAS compliance.
We host a regular HNTAS Stakeholder Consultation Forum to facilitate dialogue between ourselves and industry stakeholders. The forum is likely to be of most interest to heat network developers and operators, but we welcome any organisation that may be impacted by HNTAS. You do not need to be a technical expert to join, and we are inviting the sector to propose discussion topics. If a member of your organisation does not already attend, and you’re interested in joining or submitting a topic for discussion, please contact HNTASEnquiries@gemserv.com.
We began piloting draft technical standards and assessment procedures on heat networks in Autumn 2024. Our pilot for new heat networks is now well underway, with eleven active projects being assessed by independent expert assessors. These projects cover a variety of heat network types at different stages of development and are providing crucial feedback into the HNTAS programme.
We will start piloting HNTAS on existing heat networks soon. This will test different assessment approaches including the on-site practicality of HNTAS requirements and procedures. To ensure we understand the impact on a range of heat networks, DESNZ is building a test matrix of existing network types and sizes.
As part of HNTAS, DESNZ are developing a new technical standard - TS1, based on CP1 (2020). The standard is being updated and restructured to ensure alignment with HNTAS technical requirements, and is being developed with the input of multiple technical industry experts.
A series of focused workshops have been held with sector experts on topics such as insulation, water quality, and pressure to determine the specific changes needed in TS1. An expert Technical Steering Committee is also in place to oversee the broader restructuring. We wanted to provide advance notice that we intend to publish a draft of this new standard later this year for the sector to engage with.
Stay tuned for future newsletters updates on the Technical Assurance Scheme!
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