search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
BSEE


here are three key factors driving fuel poverty in the UK – the energy efficiency of the property, the cost of energy and the income of the household. Policies that provide financial support to households in fuel poverty does not get to the heart of the problem; addressing energy efficiency and fuel costs represent a long-term solution. Fourth generation (4G) heat networks, particularly block heat networks, have an important role to play in this.


T


Fuel poverty continues to be a major problem in the UK. Installation and efficient operation of local fourth generation heat networks can play an important role, says Katerina Nika of SAV Systems


Just to be clear about the terminology a heat network distributes heat in the form of hot water or steam through insulated pipes to provide space heating and domestic hot water to a number of apartments, a block, a number of different buildings, or a combination of all these. A heat network that is fed from large central plant to supply whole areas (e.g. part of a city or town) is called a district heating system. A heat network that supplies heat to a number of apartments or a small number of blocks from a local energy centre, is described as a block heat network.


Heat networks have gone through a number of iterations over the years and the latest generation (4G) incorporates greater flexibility than previous generations, particularly in terms of adopting an ‘open source’ approach to heat sources. As such, 4G networks use low carbon heat sources as well as more traditional technologies and have the capability to integrate smart electricity, thermal and gas grids and enable the wider use of renewable energy.


Where combined heat and power (CHP) is included in the mix of heat sources, it will also generate low cost electrical power that can be used in the building(s) to reduce the use of more expensive mains electricity. There are also savings


on operation and maintenance costs through economies of scale, compared to traditional heat supply arrangements, which also helps to reduce overall costs for consumers.


Heat networks and fuel poverty


Large district heating schemes require extensive infrastructure work, resulting in very high costs and major disruption. Many proposed schemes are never implemented because of this. Consequently, the greatest potential for alleviating fuel poverty is to shift the focus to block heat networks that are easier and more commercially viable to implement. These can therefore be seen as ‘low hanging fruit’ – commercially feasible, even in existing buildings – where much of the UK’s fuel poverty is centred.


Designing for the future


To achieve maximum benefits it is vital that the energy centre can make use of low carbon energy sources available locally – the more distant the energy source, the higher the distribution losses and cost of heat. This requires good levels of control technology, along with continuous monitoring to underpin system optimisation.


For example, where heat demand exceeds power demand there has been a tendency to turn off the CHP and use gas boilers to meet heat loads, and expensive mains electricity to meet power requirements.


A sophisticated control algorithm is able to keep the CHP running and switch the electricity generated to running heat pumps. The latter provide low grade heat, which can be topped up to the required temperatures by the high- grade heat from the CHP. This ‘prosumer’ (both consumer and producer of energy) approach maximises the efficiency advantages of using CHP whilst exploiting low carbon technologies. There may also be benefits to incorporating higher levels of hot water storage than is traditionally the case – storing energy as heat being far more cost-effective than battery storage. The important thing is that the system has the control flexibility to harness many different options to suit the specifics of the project now and into the future, and that level of flexibility is only found in 4G heat networks.


In adopting a 4G approach to heat networks we have an opportunity to address the three elements of what is known as the UK’s ‘energy trilemma’, reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy costs and ensure security of supply.


www.sav-systems.com/4G


HEATING & VENTILATION Tackling fuel poverty with heat networks


10 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2019


Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48