A Samsung-led consortium has been awarded £3.2 million from the government to install heat pumps in Oxford.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will provide the funding for the ‘Clean Heat Streets’ project, that will see up to 150 heat pumps installed in the city.

Oxford has set a net zero target for 2040 – but with buildings accounting for 60% of its emissions, it has estimated that more than 30,000 heat pumps will need to be installed by that date.

The consortium also involves both Oxford Universities and the City Council.

Clean Heat Streets is looking to tackle the heat pump question on a street-by-street basis, rather than through individual homes.

Samsung Research UK’s Tim Bailey said: “We are delighted to be leading a consortium to install Samsung heat pumps at a high density in selected neighbourhoods in Oxford and hope implementing our research will continue to grow the take up of heat pumps in the future.”

Streets in the Rose Hill area of the city will benefit from the installations.