Virtual Heat Network Manager

** 我们的项目是为社会住房提供商提供虚拟热网络管理器（VHNM）服务。**英国目前有14，000个供热网络，为超过450，000个家庭提供供暖和热水。据估计，社会住房提供者（住房协会和地方当局）以非营利方式管理着这些供热网络的50%以上。英国气候变化委员会（Committee on Climate Change）为实现英国2050年净零碳排放目标而制定的所有情景都要求将供热网络从所有家庭的2%增加到至少17%，即超过400万客户。为了让供热网络发挥其低成本、低碳的潜力，必须对其进行有效管理：高效的供热网络使用更少的能源，排放更少的碳。然而，供热网络可能很复杂：如果没有仔细和详细的管理，它们的效率通常低于50%。对于社会住房提供商来说，供热网络仅占其更广泛的组织交付的一小部分。运行高效供热网络所需的数据是可用的，但社会住房提供商根本没有资源来吸收和分析这些数据，这意味着错过了改进方案和支持客户的机会。低效供热网络的运行成本也更高。这增加了客户的运营成本，其中许多人收入低，面临燃料匮乏或自我断开的风险。客户无法更换供应商，因此比典型的能源消费者更有可能遭受损害：现在让供热网络为他们工作很重要。新冠肺炎加剧了许多客户的问题，他们现在面临收入下降，同时不得不更多地呆在家里。住房协会的工作人员甚至比平时更加紧张，例行的现场视察，以维护工厂不得不推迟。没有分析和行动的数据不会导致变化。VHNM将为资源不足的社会住房提供者提供数据分析服务。我们将远程监控热力网络数据，以评估和分析热力网络，以便在系统故障前及早发现方案问题，确定方案趋势并支持弱势客户，评估成本和效率，进行年度审查，包括电价评估，并提高方案效率。这将有助于确保计划提供最低的成本和最低的碳排放。VHNM可以使用来自任何热力网络的数据源，并可以在英国各地复制。

**Our project is for Virtual Heat Network Manager (VHNM) service for social housing providers.**There are currently 14,000 heat networks in the UK, providing heating and hot water to over 450,000 homes. Social housing providers (Housing Associations and Local Authorities) are estimated to manage over 50% of these heat networks on a not-for-profit basis. All Committee on Climate Change scenarios for the UK's 2050 net zero carbon target require an increase in heat networks from 2% to at least 17% of all homes - that's over 4 million customers.In order for heat networks to deliver on their low cost, low carbon potential, they must be effectively managed: an efficient heat network uses less energy and emits less carbon. However, heat networks can be complex: without careful and detailed management they frequently run at less than 50% efficiency. For social housing providers, heat networks comprise only a very small part of their wider organisational delivery. The data needed to run efficient heat networks is available but social housing providers simply do not have the resource to absorb and analyse it, meaning opportunities to improve schemes and to support customers are missed.Inefficient heat networks also cost more to run. This increases running costs for customers, many of whom are on low incomes and at risk of fuel poverty or self-disconnection. Customers can't switch suppliers and so are more likely to suffer detriment than typical energy consumers: it's important to get heat networks working for them now.Covid-19 has exacerbated problems for many customers, who are now facing lower incomes at the same time as they are having to be at home more. Housing association staff are even more stretched than usual and routine site visits to maintain the plant have had to be delayed.Data without analysis and action does not lead to change. The VHNM will provide the data analysis service for social housing providers that they are under-resourced to deliver themselves. We will remotely monitor heat network data to assess and analyse heat networks for the early identification of scheme issues before systems fail, to identify scheme trends and support vulnerable customers, to assess costs and efficiency, to carry out annual reviews including tariff assessments, and to deliver improved scheme efficiency. This will help to ensure schemes are delivering the lowest cost and lowest carbon emissions. The VHNM can use data sources from any heat network and can be replicated across the UK.