Thousands of UK homes could soon be warmed using heat generated from electricity grid transformers, which would have otherwise gone to waste.
National Grid has forged a partnership with SSE’s Energy Solutions arm to explore how to capture the heat generated by the transformers and redirect it into district heating networks. National Grid owns the transformers while SSE operates a string of district heating network projects across the UK. In total, SSE manages 18 heating and cooling networks, collectively serving more than 10,500 people.
The solution is currently undergoing a proof-of-concept trial at National Grid’s Deeside Centre for Innovation in Wales, described as “the first facility in Europe where assets associated with electricity networks can be tested off-grid, 24 hours a day, seven days a week”.
Once trials are complete, the solution could be implemented at up to 350 substations across the UK.