Case study: Heat network development, London Borough of Barnet
Developing a heat network for Hendon and Finchley areas in Barnet
What is the project?
Project stage: Plan
This project involved developing a feasibility study for heat networks in the Hendon and Finchley areas of Barnet, North London.
The aim was to assess how heat networks could deliver cost-effective, low or zero carbon heating to homes in these areas, considering air source heat pumps (ASHP), aquifer thermal energy systems (ATES), and electric and gas boilers as backup or peak time options.
The Zero Carbon Accelerator is supporting the London Borough of Barnet in progressing towards its net zero goals by:
- driving decarbonisation and climate action
- ensuring reliable, sustainable energy and reducing fossil fuel dependence
- providing cost-effective solutions for public sector customers
- supporting a just transition by tackling fuel poverty and strengthening energy resilience, especially for social housing residents and schools.
“We were delighted to receive Zero Carbon Accelerator support for our heat network projects.
“Their work has been instrumental to helping us meet our ambitious net zero goals, by allowing us to explore the viability of heat networks within the borough, upskill council officers with regards to innovative low-carbon solutions and consider the most suitable delivery model for any future heat network projects. We look forward to working with them on the next phase of this work”
Chris Smith, Assistant Director Estates and Decarbonisation, Barnet Council
Zero Carbon Accelerator support
The Zero Carbon Accelerator helped guide this project across different stages. Specialist partners within the Zero Carbon Accelerator Alliance played a vital role:
- Mott MacDonald provided technical oversight, led stakeholder engagement, and delivered economic analysis and modelling.
- COWI conducted feasibility assessments and technical evaluations of heat sources and network options.
- S&J Consulting advised on procurement strategy and reviewed delivery models to optimise risk allocation and project outcomes.
Key areas of the Zero Carbon Accelerator support included:
- development of success metrics and business case criteria to inform decision-making and measure project outcomes
- strategic insights for scaling heat networks across North London, supporting wider decarbonisation ambitions
- upskilling opportunities for council staff and project partners, building local expertise in heat network delivery and management
- identification of suitable funding sources and delivery models to enable progression from feasibility to implementation
- multi-borough engagement to facilitate sharing of lessons learned, best practice, and collaborative approaches.
Challenges and learning
Identifying suitable land for the energy centre was a key challenge, as there were limited available sites in the borough. Additionally, the availability of waste heat sources was restricted, which impacted technical options for the heat network. To address these issues, the project team engaged various stakeholders early on to explore alternative locations, feasible technical solutions and delivery models.
We learned what helps drives successful project outcomes:
- engaging stakeholders early
- investing in upskilling staff
- sharing knowledge across teams
- establishing clear feasibility and business case criteria from the outset.
Cross collaboration opportunities
The project fostered knowledge sharing across boroughs and external partners.
Resources such as case study reports, stakeholder engagement templates, and standardised delivery models for heat networks were developed, along with key findings from soft market testing. These materials will inform future projects and support similar initiatives.
What comes next? Potential project growth and opportunities
This project is expected to save 6,306 tCO2e over its 25-year lifetime and deliver 13,815 MWh of energy savings per year.
The Zero Carbon Accelerator will continue to support Barnet by carrying out a feasibility study for Colindale and preparing an early‑stage business case for all three potential heat networks. This will explain why the networks are needed, outline the available options, and assess whether they should progress to the next stage. This will be presented, along with a Cabinet Report, to Cabinet in Summer 2026, for a decision on whether to proceed.
The Barnet Heat Networks project demonstrates ambition and scalability, serving as a blueprint for similar initiatives across North London. Its robust feasibility studies and scalable delivery models support wider adoption.
Collaboration is central, with active engagement between Barnet Council, other boroughs, technical partners, and industry stakeholders to promote knowledge sharing and innovative approaches to delivery and financing.
Upskilling council staff and sharing expertise strengthens local capability and lays the foundation for future decarbonisation efforts, ensuring lessons learned are widely disseminated to support regional growth.