ABSTRACT
Like many of its European Union counterparts, the UK has envisioned a sustainable energy system for the future, with district heating (DH) being an integral part of sustainable cities. This study investigates the current status of DH in the UK, along with the technoeconomic aspects. In order to reflect on the current status, analysis of the regulations and policies are carried out. However, despite the determination within the UK, for several decades, DH systems have not evolved as planned. A critical analysis of the deficiencies of the DH legislation, with a UK perspective, is analyzed. Financial considerations are also considered to establish an overall picture. The research is extended to include several promising simulators and software used for the planning and design of future DH grids within the UK. It has been found that compared to other European states, DH is almost non-existent in the UK, with only a mere 2% of the population being connected to it. Despite government initiatives, including implementation of policies/regulations and facilitation from the private sector, the core issues of the relatively higher development costs, competition from natural gas reserves, and some ambiguities in the political setup, it is causing development to struggle in the UK.
