Lewes MP backs project to help rural communities become carbon-neutral

More than 600 households are involved in the CommuniHeat project, run by network operator UK Power Networks.

Throughout the two-year project, engineers will work with community groups and local partners to research, gather data and compare approaches for reducing the village’s carbon emissions from household heating.

Mrs Caulfield said: “Decarbonising heating systems is crucial to tackling the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and I’m delighted that Barcombe is leading the way to demonstrate how to make the decarbonisation of heat a reality.

“It is fantastic to see UK Power Networks passionately collaborating with a range of stakeholders, to ensure they support rural constituents like mine to decarbonise as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

CommuniHeat aims to best understand how Barcombe and similar communities could switch to low-carbon heating using electricity.

Engineers from UK Power Networks will work with local community group Ovesco to host digital community events and engagement to understand residents’ needs and opinions.

The project will also install energy meters in the village and consultancy Buro Happold will create new computer models to forecast the impacts of electrifying heat.

In doing so, the project partners hope to create a sustainable, replicable model for Barcombe that could be applied in other parts of the country.