www.heatingandventilating.net


Low carbon buildings


Are heat pumps the way to go? Heat pumps are one of th Groupe Atlantic – the par While they are a promisin requirements which, if no


Adveco


he key technologies that have been identified to help achieve carbon reduc rent company that Hamworthy belong ng technology for the future and espe


ot addressed, will cause issues with some customers. F-Gases are used a


with care throughout their lifespan. Ad gengineersandthefacilitiestocondu


ction targets.


gs to – already has heat pumps in its portfolio. ecially for new builds, s


builds they are not wit


which will also have a skills gap. Funding needs to start to gen does not come without additional cost and other potential risks.


costs for the consumerw needs looking at. Due to d design stage. If they are a Furthermore, it is easi


when they are being replaced. A hybri different system temperatures, heat aretrofitoptionwhichis(mostcomm er to deploy heat pumps in new prop


yg p y


nerate the infrastructure required. So uct the training. The same will be nee dditionally, our industry already suffe


thout their own as refrigerants in


heat pumps which have different regulations to natural gas or LPG. They also have a high global warming potential and need to be handledw gap. It requires upskilling


erties where they can be considered mercial projects) the rest of the existin pumps require bigger radiators whic dheatpumpo


ture, we can make use of renewable energy, such as from photovoltaic an nnosolarenergyispresent.Moreho


o, decarbonising eded for hydrogen ers from a skills


ng heating system during the building


pp ption(incombinationw


with a gas boiler) hequatestohigher


g


can be the solution. A smart heat pump system where the heat pump is linked up to a gas boiler network can then bring the best savings. For the foreseeable fut in batteries to use it when


with (renewable) electricity or solar thermal panels. Other opt


ot water cylinders should be charged during the day tions include heat pump water heater


nd store the energy rs, phase change


material to preheat water and even forms of heat recovery are starting to take their place in the big scheme of things At Hamworthy, we make our current gas boilers work as efficiently as possible, encouraging the boilers for close load matching with little or no wastage. We also see the opportunity in making boilers hydrogen- ready – those are also ap


euseofmodular ppliances that end users are familiar with – while embracing technology such as heat pumps. We believe that the solution lies in diversification. T


echnical director Bill Sinclair says striving for a net


echnical director Bill Sinclair says striving for a net


emission of zero by 2050 is giving impetus to reduce operational energy use, prioritising


emission of zero by 2050 is giving impetus to reduce operational energy use, prioritising


reduct on in energy consumption over all reduction in energy consumption over alli othermeasures Despite this, there remains a need for guidance from the Governmenti as to its supported choice of energy sourcei - all electric, green gas/hydrogen or al


For commercial new build, high levels of nsulation have led to a drop in heating demand creating a perfect application fori owtemperature air source heat pumps


Baxi Heating T


he UK Government’s commitment to achieving ‘net-zero’ emissions by 2050 has renewed debates within the heating sector around facing this challenge. Whilst there is much focus on the new build sector at present, with several consultations on Building Regulations, the real challenge is finding suitable solutions for the variety of existing building stock across the UK. That’s according to Jeff House, head of external affairs at Baxi Heating. Asfor alternatives ton


he UK Government’s commitment to achieving ‘net-z


suitable solutions for t with several consultat challenge. Whils


ions on Building Regulations, the rea st there is much focus on the new bui


zero’ emissions by the variety of existing building stock a


across the UK. That’s lchallengeisfinding ld sector at present,


As for alternatives to natural gas boilers, which serve over 80% of existing buildings, hydrogen fired boilers currently in development can offer a pragmatic zero carbon solution at point of use. Changing gas boilers to a completely hydrogen- powered equivalent, or even a blend of natural gas and hydrogen, is a key pathway for approaching the decarbonisation of the existing building stock. While this technology undergoes trial and demonstration in the domestic market, we are working to apply such innovation breakthroughs to the commercial sector. As repurposing exis


naturalgasboilers,whichserve over80%


poweredequivalent, ore of the existing building st


evenablend of naturalgasandhydrogen %ofexistingbuildings,hydrogenfiredbo n, isakeypathwayfor approaching thede tock. While this technology undergoes trialanddemonstration in the domesticma sting gas network infrastructure to cir rculate hydrogen is feasible, commer


arket,weare ecarbonisation


As repurposing existing gas network infrastructure to circulate hydrogen is feasible, commercial heating systems would also require conversion at the point of local grid changeover, forming a critical part of the overall solution. This type of installation is potentially suitable for the millions of existing buildings that require alternatives to natural gas fired appliances. However, regulations surrounding heating systems will need to be


rcial heating overall solution. This ty


in a hybrid configuration. In dense urban environments it is expected that heat networks will grow to deliver alargershareoftheoverall picture. Again, large hybrid ene


With new build deve network are another in in a hybrid configuratio


elopments, ground, air and water source heat pumps within a single buildi nnovative low-carbon heating solutionthatcouldreplaceorcomplementg on. In dense urban environments it is


and their demand profiles, o ering reduced operating costs owing to local embedded generation. CHP units can also be designed to operate on hydrogen, allowing systems of the future to produce low carbon power and heat in commercial developme


wing to local embedded generation. CH HPunits can


commercial developments. Suitable for existing and new build developments, hydrogen CHP units could not only help with reducing carbon and running costs but also to reduce local demand from the electricity grid. Given that no one-size-fits-all with low-carbon technolog


ents. Suitable for existing and new build ddevelopments,hydrogenCHPunitsco


these changes are not going to come to fruition immediately. Regulations and standards need to be reworked for alternative options as much as the heating systems them


for alternative options as much as the heating systems themselves do and it is vital that specifiers and contractors understand whether the alternative suits their development.


Given that no one-size-fits-all with low-carbon technologies for the varied building stock that exists in the UK, these changes are not going to come to fruition immediately. Regulations and standards need to mselves do and it is vital that specifie


gies for the varied building stock that


ers and obereworked exists in the UK,


ype of installation is potentially suitable for the millions of existing buildin ngs that require


alternatives to natural gas fired appliances. However, regulations surrounding heating systems will need to be adapted to ensure safety and efficiency are not compromised, currently an ongoing task in the industry. With new build developments, ground, air and water source heat pumps within a single building or heat network are another innovative low-carbon heating solution that could replace or complement gas fired boilers sexpectedthatheatnetworkswillgro ergy centres could be deployed to su


a larger share of the overall picture. Again, large hybrid energy centres could be deployed to supply multiple dwellings and commercial premises, reducing carbon emissions.


pply multiple ow to deliver gas fired boilers ing or heat


For electricity generation as well as heat, combined heat and power (CHP) units will continue to suit many buildings and their demand profilles, offering reduced operating costsow


ould not only help oilers currently in


higher temperatures. At Adveco we arei runn ng a development programme to prov de a newclass of high temperature ASHPswh ch address commercial DHW demands and that also leverage more environmentally friendly components. The cha lenge of decarbonisation


other measures. Despite this, there remains. a need for gu dance fromtheGovernment as to ts supported choice of energy source - a l electric, green gas/hydrogen or a combination of the two.


of insulation have led to a drop in heatingi demand creat ng a perfect application for l low temperature air source heat pumps (ASHP) for meeting DHW demand requiring h gher temperatures. At Advecowe are running a development programme toi provide a new class of high temperaturei ASHPs which address commercial DHWi


The challenge of decarbonisationl w ll also demandmassive commercial will also demand massive commerciali refurb shment, certainly ifwe are to bring


refurbishment, certainly if we are to bringi bu ldings up to a standard to take full buildings up to a standard to take fulli advantage of systems based solely on heat pump techno ogy. So, there needs to be an


pump technology. So, there needs to be anl alternative option. As a system designer andmanufacturer our immediate focus is on delivering packaged and bespoke hybridl


and manufacturer, our immediate focus is, on de ivering packaged and bespoke hybrid systems. These combine high-efficiency gas and e ectricwater heaters and boilers alongside solar thermal, micro-CHPl and ASHPs. Optimising pre-existing and. new systems in this manner really paysi


gas and electric water heaters and boilersl a ongside solar thermal,micro-CHP and ASHPs Optimising pre-existing and newsystems n thismanner really pays dividends, balancing gas and electricity use for a more cost-effective means of delivering sustainability within the building. G ven the levels of existing gas


Given the levels of existing gasi


infrastructure weseeahugeopportunityfor green gas and hydrogen technologies in the midl to long term. BEIS is investing in hydrogen and from our own investigations into the feasibility of hydrogen we believe a 20% blend to be an achievable first step and 100% provision


rastructure, we see a huge opportunity for, greengasandhydrogentechno ogiesinthemid tolongterm.BEISisinvestinginhydrogenand fromourowninvestigationsintothefeasibility ofhydrogenwebelievea20%blendtobe anachievablefirststepand100%provision feasible as we approach 2050.


The existing familiarity and lower price of gas is a bonus but it is still at this point a leap of faithwithout government promotion and legislation. The hybrid approach therefore helps future proof a building’s heating and hotwater systemin advance ofwidespread adoption of these newfuel of widespread adoption of these new fuel technologies.


The existing familiarity and lower price of gas is a bonus but it is still at this point a leap of faith without government promotion and legislation. The hybrid approach therefore helps future proof a building’s heating and hot water system in advance


www.heatingandventilating.net


February 2020


!"


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