BE24115 - HNTAS Pilot Assessors

**Please note this is an award notice, not a competition. This contract has been awarded via the Crown Commercial Services - RM6314 - Demand Management & Renewables Framework - Lot 4.1: Heat Networks - Heat Network Design **

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has a requirement to appoint organisations that have specialist heat network practitioners who are able to assess the technical performance of heat networks participating in the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) pilot programme

The Energy Act 2023 provides for Ofgem to be appointed as regulator of the heat networks sector and grants Ofgem the power to authorise individuals to operate heat networks and undertake supply activity. Ofgem will grant authorisation to a heat network operator, provided that the operator's network meets certain authorisation conditions. The Energy Act provides for compliance with minimum technical standards to be included as one of these conditions. This lays the foundation for technical standards secondary legislation which is expected to come into force in 2025 to introduce mandated minimum technical standards for heat networks (e.g. mandating requirements on water flow temperatures, pipe insulation, etc). All heat networks (existing and new) across a range of different characteristics (large city sized district heating to single block communal networks) will be in scope of this requirement.

Heat networks are comprised of several elements (e.g. energy centre, district distribution network, communal distribution network, thermal substation, consumer connection and consumer heat system). Heat networks and elements also have several stages within their lifespans (e.g. feasibility, design, construction, and operation and maintenance). The draft Code documents set minimum technical standards for each of these elements and stages.

In order for a heat network to be assured as having met the technical requirements, heat network operators will need to have their networks assessed for different elements at different stages. Once a network passes these assessments the network can apply for a certificate to demonstrate overall compliance