Triple Point Heat Networks, the manager of the government’s £320 million Heat Networks Investment Project, has published a suite of 13 template contracts for use by anyone involved in setting up a district heating scheme.
The work was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with the contracts being drafted by law firm Lux Nova Partners based on the feedback from consultations.
The contracts include energy centre lease, operation and maintenance and connection and supply agreements that can be tailored to fit each specific project.
Triple Point Heat Networks said they will help to raise standards and reduce costs as more networks are rolled out as part of efforts to decarbonise the energy systems. “We are confident that they will be of significant value, and that they will offer a useful starting point to contract creation and negotiation,” the company said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the government awarded £40 million to seven projects as part of the Heat Networks Investment Project – five being run by local authorities and two by private developers. It also unveiled proposals to grant developers to powers to undertake street works in the same way as traditional utilities.