UK government reveals £90m plan to warm homes with data center waste heat

The UK government has announced a £90 million investment initiative aimed at repurposing excess heat generated by data centers to provide affordable heating for approximately 750,000 homes. Managed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the project focuses on building and upgrading heat networks across cities including London, Manchester, and Bradford. In London, the initiative involves an ambitious plan to transport heated water via electric barges along the River Thames until a permanent subterranean pipe system is completed. This strategy, which mirrors successful models in cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, seeks to lower energy bills while promoting sustainable infrastructure. While the project has faced some public skepticism regarding the temporary use of river barges, officials emphasize that the investment will unlock £5 billion in broader economic growth, create new engineering jobs, and modernize the UK's heating infrastructure to ensure long-term energy security.