Projects and further information
We are always looking for ways to improve the operation and efficiency of our heat networks. These pages show some of the recent and upcoming projects to achieve this.
North Peckham boiler house refurbishment
You can keep up to date on this project via our external project webpage below:
Newington estate underground mains
You can keep up to date on this project via our external project webpage below:
Ground source heat pumps
Between 2020 and 2023 three estates in the borough became the first housing projects in London to have open loop ground source heat pumps. Consort, Newington and Wyndham estates now draw heat from the London aquifer 100m below our feet.
These systems are saving 1,774 tonnes of CO2e per annum, equal to taking over 1,600 cars off the road. The project is also set to reduce energy usage by over 34 per cent compared to the previous networks while also creating 3.4MW of renewable energy.
The project benefited from a low interest loan from the Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund and receives Renewable Heat Incentive income from the government. This is used to repay the loan over 20 years.
The Mayor of London featured this project (from 3:57) in their recent ‘showcasing’ video:
Our contractor also created a short animated video to help explain how the system works:
SELCHP Low Carbon Heat Network
SELCHP is the South East London Combined Heat and Power facility. It's a waste incinerator in Lewisham borough which generates heat and electricity. In 2013 we commissioned Veolia to build a network of pipes to carry low carbon heat from SELCHP to Bermondsey. There it provides heating and hot water to around 2,650 council homes.
In 2019, we undertook a feasibility study on extending the SELCHP heat network towards the Old Kent Road and Peckham.
The study found that an extension to the SELCHP network was the optimal technical and carbon footprint solution for the area.
We are now working on the detail of how to expand the network to serve another 3,000 existing homes as well as new homes, schools and commercial premises.
Heat mapping and master planning
In 2018 and 2019, we undertook a 'heat mapping and master planning' exercise for the borough. In 2020, we completed two further studies to enhance the initial heat mapping phase.
You can view the project output reports and presentations below:
- Southwark heat mapping and master planning final presentation (PDF, 2.9mb)
- Southwark HMMP GSHP mapping (PDF, 1.9mb)
- Southwark HMMP sewer study addendum final report (PDF, 4.1mb)
Page last updated: 23 February 2024
