Energy Projects
Tackling waste heat, reducing the amount of energy we use, making our heating systems more efficient and increasing renewable energy generation not only helps us reduce our carbon emissions but can lower our bills.
As a local authority we have targets to work on our buildings and assets to reduce our carbon footprint and generate enough renewable energy to run them at net zero. But to reach net zero in the borough by 2050 our core role must be to support our residents and businesses and ensure everyone can benefit from low carbon living.
We recognise change is difficult and upfront costs can sometimes be prohibitive, but we want to help our communities with practical guidance and support.
Our new energy strategy sets out how we plan to support our communities to not only decarbonise but support those in fuel poverty and improve comfort and quality of life, both with heating and cooling. This can be viewed here Ashford Energy Strategy 2026-28.
Ashford's Energy Strategy - Some key projects
Planning
We are supporting the development of low carbon buildings through contributions to design guides and work on our next Local Plan. Currently in development, our next Local Plan will have a key role in supporting climate action through revised policies around renewable energy, green infrastructure and building standards.
Infrastructure
We are actively working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to understand the possibility of a district heat network in Ashford. This is a system to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to heat our buildings and hot water and move to using heat pumps and potentially waste heat from industrial processes to deliver our needs instead. We are currently exploring options to develop a decentralised heating strategy around the Stour Centre and Civic centre site.
We are working closely with partners at UK Power Networks (UKPN) who manage and operate our energy network in the South East to help ensure we have enough energy and connections for the increased energy use we will require as our homes, businesses and transport electrify in the coming decades.
Social Housing
We have a targeted strategy in place to insulate our housing stock in most need, to reduce energy use and wasted heat and improve comfort. Last year we successfully won an additional £2m of funding from the Dept of Net Zero Social Housing to deliver Wave 3 of the Warm Homes Grant to work on the next tranche of homes to improve their energy efficiency.
Working our our own buildings
In addition to successful projects at the Stour Centre which has seen air source heat pumps now generating 90% of heating instead of gas, with Tenterden Leisure Centre following suit with a 70% reduction in utility consumption. We are working on our hoping to make the Julie Rose Stadium our first fully net zero site. Last year we received funding and external capital to trial an innovative ground source heating solution, Teratherm; when we add solar later this year, we anticipate all the heating and hot water at the site, will be run solely by renewables.
All our other council buildings are being reviewed for energy measures and renewable energy generation opportunities and we are exploring how our key sites can be some of the first buildings linked to our heat networks. Other standout projects include a new solar car port array at the Stour Centre which will feed the sports centre.
Funding and grants
We are always actively exploring ways we can support residents access green energy initiatives and grants from supporting those able to pay know what is available to administering government tested grants. These include options for improving insulation, boiler upgrades, EV charge points for businesses and solar installations. You can find more information on our funding and grants webpage within the climate section.
We are currently exploring a green loans scheme for our residents - whereby those who wish to improve the fabric of their home or install renewables, can do so at the lowest cost. We hope this will be running later in 2026.
Community energy projects
Our new work plan for 2024-2026 outlines our ambition to work with and support local groups setting up community led energy projects. These can be schemes of any scale, wholly or partially owned and run by local communities. The scope is very wide and can cover projects that generate energy for local use or sale, projects that make community assets more efficient or greener, even small scale community run or joint venture heat networks.
The core aim is for communities to have the power to make a difference and keep the financial benefits from the transition to renewables whether that is through reduced energy bills or income to reinvest.
The below video from Community Energy England gives a good introduction.
Our Local Area Energy Plan provides us with a wealth of data about the energy requirements and energy generation opportunities for all building s in the borough. This data would be very useful to groups to evidence energy needs and develop a business case for a defined area. This is new for us too but we are keen to learn with any groups who are interested in exploring this further and offer the support we can. whether that is signposting to helpful partners, providing data or our bid writing expertise. Please email our Climate Action Team if you would like to discuss a specific project further.
Further information
Simple Energy Advice is a government-endorsed service which gives independent and impartial advice on improving your home’s efficiency and keeping warm.
For a free shower timer and other water saving devices visit the Save Water Save Money website.
