Clean Heat Streets project partners including researchers at the Environmental Change Institute were delighted to welcome Anneliese Dodds MP to find out more about the Clean Heat Streets project, designed to promote the adoption of clean and sustainable heat pump technology. As the MP for Oxford East where the Clean Heat Steets project is based and as Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities the team was thrilled to discuss project findings and their implications for just energy transition and the government’s heat decarbonisation policy. Dr Nick Banks, Researcher in Local Energy Systems at the ECI, explains the importance of the visit.
As the government minister responsible for promoting fairness and equity, Anneliese was the perfect audience to hear about the project’s successes and challenges in installing dozens of heat pumps into the Rose Hill and Iffley neighbourhood – a place where there are areas of deep socio-economic disadvantage alongside much more affluent areas more easily able to take advantage of the project’s offer: a discounted heat pump with lots of support from the project team across the whole customer journey.
The place-based approach for this project was developed by the Energy Group at ECI and we are delighted that the project has been largely successful. Learnings will be used to develop replication of the CHS model in Oxfordshire and will also be shared and published in due course.
In the meantime, the meeting with Anneliese was a great opportunity to get some of the main policy implications across and to secure support for follow ups in the area.
What is Clean Heat Streets?
Clean Heat Streets is a government-funded initiative under DESNZ’s, Heat Pump Ready programme. It is designed to promote a dense installation of clean and sustainable heat pump technology into a specific neighbourhood – here, Rose Hill and Iffley in Oxford. Collaborating with Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University, the initiative offers research and data analytic support to make sure it’s a success.
How does Clean Heat Streets work?
Clean Heat Streets provides residents with discounted heat pumps and intensive support throughout the installation process. By making the switch from gas boilers, participants are able to heat their home in a more healthy way, often at lower cost whilst also contributing to reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, the initiative aims to demonstrate the feasibility of dense heat pump installations without putting pressure on the local electricity network.
Find out more about the Clean Heat Streets project.