In the pipeline: networks to warm UK homes using surplus heat

Government plans to spend 45m on citywide systems and other technologies to reduce carbon output

Tens of thousands of homes, offices and hospitals could soon be warmed with surplus heat from factories, incinerator plants and even disused mine shafts under plans by the government to fund low-carbon heating.

The government will spend 30m to help set up heat networks across cities including London, Glasgow and Manchester and a further 14.6m to develop other low-carbon technologies that can heat and cool buildings without fossil fuels.