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HEAT PUMPS


modern heat pumps can achieve COPs of many times this. As a result of the thermodynamic alchemy of the vapour compression cycle, heat pumps can generate several times more energy than they consume, far outstripping rival approaches.


This, coupled with the fact they are proven technology, sets them apart among competing low carbon solutions, and means they have a potentially huge role to play in meeting the nation’s carbon reduction targets. Unlocking the potential of heat pumps, however, requires a supportive policy framework with a sufficiently long planning horizon to give industry and users the confidence to make far- reaching investment decisions.


After a period of uncertainty, it is encouraging to report that some major pieces in the UK’s national policy framework are now being put in place. When fully implemented, I believe they should provide the foundation for a dynamic expansion of the heat pump sector. A key plank was the recent announcement in the Budget (March 2020) that the government is extending the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme for both commercial and domestic properties. This guarantees tariff payments to heat pump owners to help offset the cost of installing heat pumps.


The scheme has been extended to at least March 2022, giving certainty for those keen to invest in heat pumps, and ensuring capital costs are offset for an initial period before longer-term energy savings accrue.


As well as helping to reduce carbon emissions for individual buildings, heat pumps have a potentially even bigger part to play in reducing emissions through their use in distributed heat networks.


Heat networks provide heating, hot water and / or cooling from a central source to homes, public sector buildings, shops, offices, sport facilities, hospitals and universities. According to the latest figures, there are currently around 14,000 heat networks in the UK, providing heating, hot water and / or cooling to approximately 480,000 consumers.


Since they aggregate heating and cooling supplies across a neighbourhood or entire district, such networks are uniquely able to unlock otherwise inaccessible large-scale renewable and recovered heat sources, such as waste heat and thermal energy from rivers and mines. Toshiba Carrier UK has particular experience in this area, recently developing a high efficiency water-to-water heat pump that enables large- scale harnessing of energy from rivers, lakes and industrial processes. What sets it apart is that it


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can generate high temperature water up to 65 degrees Celsius from even low grade waste heat, for sanitary use or radiator heating. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) estimates that around 18% of UK heating provision will need to come from such heat networks by 2050 if the country is to meet its carbon targets cost-effectively.


With their exceptional energy efficiency and ability to harness low grade sources of heat from the environment, heat pumps have a huge part to play in the roll-out of this new generation of heat networks across the country.


While the theory of heat networks is relatively simple, making them happen on the ground can be quite complicated. This is due to the number of people, agencies, companies and organisations required to plan, design and build the new infrastructure.


To support this, the government is making up to £320m of funding available through the Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP), and has established a Heat Network Delivery Unit to support local authorities and project developers in getting heat network schemes off the ground. In what could be a decisive policy change, the government is proposing to give developers of heat networks the same statutory rights as other utilities, such as gas and electricity. The aim is to ease planning burdens and costs on developers when building new networks or extensions to existing ones.


Another important strand in the new policy framework is the Future Homes Standard. The government’s proposals, currently under consideration, are designed to phase-out inefficient traditional heating technologies, such as gas-fired boilers, and replace them with low carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps. The plan, revealed in outline, is to add these requirements to the revised UK Building Regulations, due to come into force in 2025, although there have been suggestions this could be brought forward in order to begin the transition sooner.


Alongside this national picture, some far- sighted local authorities have introduced local regulations aimed at delivering an enhanced pace of carbon reduction in their own areas. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has blazed a trail with its renewable energy policy as part of planning requirements. While not explicitly mandating use of heat pumps in place of other less efficient technologies, it has had the effect of encouraging adoption as a means of achieving the GLA’s renewable energy targets. The latest version of the GLA scheme, introduced this year, is the most ambitious yet,


requiring net zero-carbon emission targets for all major new developments across the capital. This can be delivered through a combination of low carbon and renewable technologies, plus purchased offsets through its own scheme. Another pioneering local authority is Southampton City Council, which has been operating its Carbon Reduction Policy and Low Carbon City Strategy for 10 years. It has stimulated the use of heat pumps in both public and commercial buildings, contributing to a 54% reduction in carbon emissions.


We recently worked on a project based on the council’s low carbon requirements to deliver a high efficiency air conditioning solution for Solent University’s new world-class sports centre, based on high performance heat pumps and heat recovery systems.


Heat pump technology itself continues to evolve and become even more efficient. Importantly, operating limits are being expanded, enabling heat pumps to continue operating at very low ambients and extract heat from air as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, while still providing heated water at up to 55 degrees Celsius.


Due to volume production, the substantial premium that once applied to heat pump versions of chillers no longer applies. As a result, end users increasingly accept that it makes sense to opt for a heat pump version of a unit, since the small additional cost is dwarfed by the efficiency advantage and cost savings over its life-time. The F-gas regulation continues to shape manufacturer’s approaches through bearing down on use of higher Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. The next step in the phase-down takes place later this year, further encouraging the switch to lower GWP alternatives and optimisation of equipment for use with these new fluids.


For scroll-based chillers and heat pumps, the preferred solution, R32, offers significantly lower GWP and, when system components are optimised, even higher efficiencies. For larger water-to-water machines based on screw compressors, the deployment of HFO R-1234ze has already proved to be been highly successful, with delivered water temperatures of up to 85 degrees Celsius possible.


The UK has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions within the next three decades. As we have seen, some key policies are now being put in place to create a national framework to help deliver this.


For the reasons outlined, I believe heat pumps will play a central role in this national – and indeed global – effort.


June 2020 27


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