Welcome to Melbourn Energy Superloop
Superloop is a proposed heat network for the village.
Pipes under the streets will carry water warmed by the waste heat from a small data centre.
By looping our network’s warm water through your new Ground Source Heat Pump we boost its efficiency, driving down your bills.
And by installing GSHP’s at scale we drive down install costs too. That makes it easier for more residents to switch to affordable low-carbon heating.
Join hundreds of your neighbours who’ve already expressed an interest in connecting to Superloop. There are benefits for the planet, your community, and your home:
Reduce your energy bills
You could save hundreds of pounds a year on your energy bills — typically 25-40%
Cut your carbon footprint
Reduce household CO₂ by 2–4 tonnes each year — equivalent to taking a petrol car off the road for good
Future-proof your home
Decades of reliable, low-carbon heating, using British-made Kensa ground source heat pumps
Improve your indoor air quality
Get rid of pollution from gas boilers — a major source of air pollution in UK homes
See what you can save compared to gas. Psst… getting your instant estimate enters you into a monthly draw to win one of three £10 Dobbies e-gift vouchers (garden centre & restaurant).
How does it work?
It’s only waste heat if you waste it…
Pipes beneath Melbourn’s streets link homes to a nearby data centre powered partly by renewable energy.
As the data centre runs, its computer servers produce heat that we capture. That waste heat warms the water flowing through Superloop’s network of underground pipes.
This pre-warmed water loops through ground source heat pumps (installed by Octopus Energy Services) in homes, businesses and community spaces, boosting their efficiency, driving down energy costs.
After transferring heat to customer’s heat pumps, cooler water returns to the data centre to be reheated – creating a closed cycle that runs 24/7.
The result?
Up to 5x
more efficient heating
25-40%
lower energy bills forever
Up to 90%
lower heating emissions
Check out our short animation explaining how Superloop works:
Ultra-fast broadband, too
Alongside affordable, low-carbon heat, we’re bringing ultra-fast 10Gb fibre broadband to the village, offering you more choice, greater speeds and competitive prices.
Superloop: good for your pocket, great for the planet.
How much could you save by joining?
By fitting a ground source heat pump connected to Superloop, you get to future-proof your home for an amazing up front price. You should save 25-40% on heating bills compared to gas going forward. Here’s what it looks like for different homes:
| Usage | Estimated annual gas bill | Typical savings on a standard tariff | Typical savings on a smart tariff (e.g. Octopus Cosy) |
| Low usage (flat or 1 bed, 1-2 people) | ~£600 per year | ~£140 per year | ~£210 per year |
| Medium usage (2-3 bed, 2-3 people) | ~£850 per year | ~£210 per year | ~£320 per year |
| High usage (4+ bed, 4-5 people) | ~£1200 per year | ~£310 per year | ~£470 per year |
All figures represent typical annual savings compared to remaining on gas. There’s a £120 a year standing charge to connect to Superloop, tied to CPI. To achieve maximum savings we recommend capping your gas supply, fitting a smart thermostat (we can do both) and using a smart tariff.
See our full savings calculations and assumptions here.
How Melbourn Energy Superloop will come to life
Building a heat network takes time and careful planning. The full project will take around three years to complete, with heat pump installations happening in phases across Melbourn. Here’s the plan:
1. Community consultation - underway
We’re meeting residents, running events, and sharing how Superloop works. So far, 94% of Melbourn residents we’ve spoken to are interested in joining.
2. Planning applications - underway
We’re working on securing permissions for the data centre and underground pipe network. Areas with strong community interest will help guide where the first phase of construction starts. Spread the word and encourage your neighbours to register their interest.
3. Home surveys – coming soon
We’ll survey your home to show your potential savings, installation costs and the best heat pump solution for your home.
Good news: The government is currently offering a £7,500 grant to replace your gas boiler with a Ground Source Heat Pump.
That goes a long way towards covering the cost of installation, so now is a great time to switch to cosy modern heating.
You’ll also be able to talk to Octopus Energy Services (our installer) about solar and battery offers which are the perfect partner for your GSHP.
4. Construction
Once planning permissions are granted, construction can begin on:
- The data centre
- The underground pipe network
- Heat-storing boreholes (the system’s backup for constant, reliable heat through all seasons)
Work will take place in small, carefully managed sections to keep roads accessible throughout.
5. Heat pump installation
Swapping your boiler for a Kensa ground source heat pump will take Octopus Energy Services (our installer) 2-4 days.
Then you’re ready to enjoy cleaner and more affordable heating for years to come.
Who's behind Melbourn Energy Superloop?
You’re in safe hands. Some of the UK’s most reputable infrastructure companies have come together to make Melbourn Energy Superloop a reality.
It’s a collaborative project powered by Dataglow Energy, Kensa, Deep Green, aql, and Octopus Energy Services, backed by renewable energy giant Octopus Energy Generation.
Our mission: Decarbonise homes through innovative, community-scale heat networks.
Backed by Octopus Energy Generation, Dataglow Energy is the driving force behind Melbourn Energy Superloop – and many future Superloop locations.
As the forward-thinking renewable investment arm of Britain’s largest energy company, OEG invests in Dataglow Energy both directly and through its managed funds, which also back Deep Green and Kensa. Energy Superloops are seen as a practical, affordable way to help the UK reach Net Zero.
Britain’s largest and most established ground source heat pump manufacturer. Kensa will install and maintain Superloop heat networks and award-winning heat pumps, building a system designed to last decades.
An innovative data centre developer turning waste heat into community benefit. By hosting a data centre in towns and cities, communities gain cheaper, cleaner heat – proving that waste heat only exists if we choose to waste it.
A leading provider of digital infrastructure and communications since 1998, aql delivers ultra-high-capacity networking, internet engineering, and fixed, mobile and satellite communications as a service – acting as the hidden enabler behind some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing brands.
Got any questions about Superloop?
We’re here to help, so feel free to get in touch. You can also find plenty of answers to common questions on our FAQ page.