Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support community heat networks.

Heat networks are a key technology for meeting our net zero target. The Government is developing the following through the Heat Network Transformation Programme:

• Accelerating deployment of low carbon technologies for new and existing heat networks through the Green Heat Network Fund, which was recently allocated an additional £485m to 2027/28
• Improving the performance of heat networks through £77m of funding for the Heat Networks Efficiency Scheme
• Introducing heat network zoning in England in 2025 to boost sector growth
• Building skills to encourage investment and jobs growth through the Heat Training Grant
• Introducing regulated consumer protections by 2025