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💡UK Pumps £90M for Datacenter Heat to Homes

London's River Thames to Get Hot Water Tunnels

TL;DR

The UK government is investing £90 million to redirect excess heat from datacenters to warm homes, with a £41 million tunnel project under the Thames to supply 650,000 London homes by 2028.

The UK government is pouring £90 million into a project that redirects excess heat from datacenters to warm homes, aiming to make London less reliant on gas. The centerpiece is a £41 million tunnel project under the River Thames, set to supply 650,000 London homes with 'clean heat' by 2028. This project, inspired by similar schemes in Copenhagen and Amsterdam, could reduce gas dependency and lower heating costs for over 750,000 homes. The engineering challenges and long timeline mean this is a big bet on a greener future.

UK Pumps £90M for Datacenter Heat to Homes — theregister

Key Points

1

UK government allocates £90 million for heat networks, including a £41 million tunnel project under the Thames.

2

The Thames tunnel project aims to supply 650,000 London homes with 'clean heat' by 2028, reducing gas dependency.

3

Similar schemes in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Berlin have operated for decades, showing long-term viability.

4

The project involves transporting hot water 15 miles along the Thames each day by electric barges from a waste plant near Bexley.

5

The government is also investing in heat networks in Solihull, Marble Arch, and Bexley and Greenwich.

Why It Matters

The £41 million Thames tunnel project will supply 650,000 London homes with 'clean heat' by 2028, reducing gas dependency. This innovative approach to energy efficiency could lower heating costs for over 750,000 homes, making it a significant step towards a greener future. The project's success could set a precedent for similar initiatives in other cities.

datacentersgreen energyheat networksUK governmentLondon

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