Open Heat Grid starts from a simple observation: many of these technologies and projects are already connected by place. They sit within the same neighbourhoods, rely on the same infrastructure, draw on the same resources and ultimately serve the same communities.

The challenge is therefore not simply choosing technologies.

The challenge is understanding how they relate to one another and how they can work together over time.

When heat can move between sources, users, storage and networks, new opportunities emerge. Resources can be shared more effectively, infrastructure can evolve more flexibly, and communities can make better use of the assets already available to them.

Importantly, this is not a competing solution, but a way of ensuring that different approaches work together within a single system.

Open Heat Grid explores how multiple heat sources, buildings, thermal storage and infrastructure can be connected into integrated local energy systems that are capable of adapting, growing and creating value over time.

The publication exists to examine connections between projects, technologies and communities, and to explore how places can make informed choices about their energy futures.

What you’ll find here

Core Concepts

Articles exploring integrated heat systems, place-based energy planning and the evolution of thermal infrastructure.

Case Studies

Lessons from projects in the UK and internationally, focusing on what can be learned rather than what should be copied.

Reading Notes

Reflections on academic papers, technical reports, standards and research that have influenced our thinking.

Milestone Insights

Ideas and observations that materially changed our understanding of heat systems and community energy.

Explorations

Working hypotheses, thought journeys and emerging questions.

Thermosophy

The framework that underpins much of the thinking explored through Open Heat Grid.

A note on perspective

Many of the technologies and ideas discussed here are already well established.

Open Heat Grid does not claim ownership of them.

Its contribution is to explore how they relate to one another and what they may tell us about the future of integrated heat systems.

The publication draws upon:

• practical project experience;

• community heat initiatives;

• academic literature;

• international examples;

• industry collaboration; and

• ongoing conversations across the sector.

Choice, not prescription

A recurring theme throughout this publication is that there is rarely a single optimal solution.

Different places contain different resources, constraints, aspirations and opportunities.

The role of analysis is not always to prescribe a preferred outcome.

Sometimes it is to illuminate possibilities, explain consequences and support informed decision-making.

Open Heat Grid is therefore less concerned with promoting particular technologies than with understanding how different approaches can work together.

Editorial independence

Open Heat Grid is independently published by Ground Source Engineering.

The views expressed in individual articles are those of their respective authors.

Guest contributions are welcome, but publication does not imply endorsement by other contributors or organisations.

The purpose of the publication is to encourage constructive discussion and informed exploration of integrated heat systems.

In one sentence

Open Heat Grid explores how heat sources, buildings, storage and infrastructure can work together over time as integrated local energy systems.

Subscribers receive:

• New articles and reflections

• Case studies and lessons from practice

• Reading notes from research and literature

• Milestone Insights that have shaped our thinking

• Explorations of emerging ideas and questions

Posts are delivered directly to your inbox and remain available in the publication archives.