Getting to Net Zero

The potential for heat networks in our communities

To meet the UK’s 2050 Net Zero targets, carbon-intensive activities like transportation, electricity production, and heating must be reimagined. The Energy Act 2023 presents a significant opportunity for heat networks to drive carbon-neutral heating and establish a new sector aligned with Net Zero goals.

Our latest report, Getting to Net Zero: The Potential for Heat Networks in Our Communities, gathers insights from 80 UK-based investors and developers, alongside expert interviews with Equitix, Related Argent, Hemiko, SSE, and Asper. We thank our contributors and hope this report sparks further discussion on the future of heat networks in the UK and Europe.

Ensuring energy resilience for industrial and logistics

Industrial and logistics buildings are essential to the UK economy, but developers, investors, and occupiers must balance energy resilience with Net Zero targets. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated ecommerce growth, increasing demand for efficient distribution centres. As EPC standards tighten and grid constraints persist, the sector is investing in onsite renewable energy and battery storage to reduce carbon footprints.

We interviewed industry experts to explore solutions for implementing onsite energy generation. Their insights highlight key challenges and opportunities, helping organisations adapt their strategies. We thank our contributors, including Panattoni, Greater London Authority, St. Modwen Logistics, ISG, Savills Earth, British Property Federation, Tritax Symmetry, and Atrato Group.

Consenting hydrogen projects

The UK Government has ambitious targets for low-carbon hydrogen, which could help tackle key decarbonisation challenges and support the 2050 Net Zero goal. However, as multiple hydrogen projects seek planning and environmental approvals, unfamiliarity with the technology may slow progress.

Our latest research examines whether regulatory hurdles could hinder the rapid rollout of hydrogen infrastructure. We surveyed 100 industry participants and interviewed experts across the sector to explore barriers in the planning process and potential solutions. We thank our contributors and hope this report sparks discussion on accelerating hydrogen development and achieving the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.

The role of rural land

Rural land will play a key part in meeting the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target, and the impact of this is becoming increasingly visible.

With the debate about how rural land will be affected by decarbonisation gaining momentum, we have interviewed a number of experts involved across a broad spectrum of rural land use – landowning, farming, food production, investment, a charity and academia.

They have shared a diverse range of opinion and many valuable insights, giving us their thoughts on how Net Zero ambitions can be practically achieved, how they might be financed and the opportunities for the sector. The responses provide a current indication of how leading individuals in this area, across the widest range of people involved in rural land, are thinking and acting in respect to Net Zero. We have added our observations on the themes.