District heating is the use of a centralised boiler system to provide heat across numerous buildings (industrial, commercial and domestic) through a network of pre-insulated pipes.

This type of system has many benefits including (but not limited to):

- Reduction in installation costs through utilising a single heat generation source (i.e. biomass boiler, CHP unit, Ground Source Heat Pump (etc).
- Reduced service and maintenance costs.
- Fuel costs are competitive, predictable and steady.
​- Low climate impact (reduced CO2 emissions, sulphur dioxide etc).

 

How It Works

A heating main carries hot water from the main heat source to each termination (house, warehouse etc) within its system. At each termination an indirect heat transfer takes place, transferring heat from the district main pipe to the internal heating system through the use of heat exchangers.

The district heating system therefore provides domestic warm water all the time and in unlimited quantities. Following energy transfer at the termination the cooled water is circulated back to the boiler to be reheated and re-circulated.