Waste to Warmth: How the UK can harness waste heat for a greener future

By Caroline Dobbin, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Cory Group 

The ‘untapped potential’ of almost all technologies within the energy sector is a phrase many of us have come to be familiar with. Whilst it’s a tale as old as time, there really is no better way to describe the possibilities surrounding energy from waste (EfW). It is particularly true of the role EfW facilities must play in using their waste heat to meet the heat requirements of millions of homes. 

When it comes to decarbonising heating, our European counterparts have almost crossed the finish line where the UK has just started the marathon. With heat networks in the UK accounting for 3% of heat demand, compared to Denmark’s 64%, we have a long way to go. Urgency to increase this market penetration is growing, as net zero targets draw nearer and the UK’s heat generation still accounts for a staggering 37% of our emissions. This urgency extends beyond pressing legally-binding net zero targets; decarbonised heat technologies are absolutely necessary for the country’s energy security and its affordability. The good news is the UK has the largest heat network investment potential in Europe – and a roadmap to seize it.

London is already leading the charge. In December 2024, the Greater London Authority (GLA) identified strategic waste heat sites across the capital – including EfW facilities and industrial clusters – capable of supporting citywide heat networks via long-range mains. This blueprint maps connecting high-density demand zones to surplus heat, slashing emissions and costs. A single transmission main linking Greenwich to Southwark alone could unlock heat for thousands of homes.

What makes the case even more compelling is the fact that sources of heat in the city are readily available. All we need now is to proactively put this heat to use; a goal which the Cory Group is actively seeking to achieve.

Cory currently operates the Riverside 1 EfW facility in Belvedere, South East London, and is building a second, adjacent facility on the same site – Riverside 2. Once Riverside 2 is commissioned, the two facilities will be capable of producing almost 3TWh of waste heat a year – that’s enough to heat the entire City of London, plus half the City of Westminster. 

All of this will be directly produced from processing over 1.5 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste and otherwise would be released into the atmosphere. The use of such waste heat has the potential to save the City of London alone 600,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. 

This is just one company’s potential impact - on a wider scale, the currently operating EfW facilities across the country could deliver 20,000 GWh of heat if connected to heat networks. That’s the equivalent of heating 2.6 million homes.

However, it’s not just about the gigawatts – savings, investment, and jobs are also part of the picture.

For example, the use of heat from EfW over a sustained 25-year period could save the average domestic household up to £22,000 according to research carried out by NERA on behalf of Resource Recovery UK. The expansion of the heat network sector has the potential to produce 81,000 jobs by 2030 and the Green Heat Network Fund has already created an investment environment that generates at least £3 of private investment for every £1 of public funding. This must become a priority for the UK; we have the potential to drastically drive economic growth, be a catalyst for delivery of net zero targets and save households tens of thousands of pounds.

Replicating London’s success nationwide requires ambition. The GLA’s subregional energy planning offers a template for every UK city. Every region has untapped waste heat: from EfW plants in the Midlands to industrial clusters in the North. The missing link? A national heat strategy that mandates local area energy plans, backed by devolved funding and incentives to de-risk private investment.

Government must lead the charge. Clear frameworks to unlock private investment, catalytic public funding to ignite a heat revolution, and bold policies to prioritise waste heat as a national asset are non-negotiables. Through this the UK can harness a £100bn growth opportunity, slashing emissions, and ensuring energy security. The tools exist. The case is proven. Now is the moment for decisive leadership.