DOMESTIC HEATING
www.heatingandventilating.net
The decarbonisation challenge and the options W
ith a commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, exciting innovations and new technologies are underway in the plumbing and heating sector. However, with heating being one of the most diffi cult sectors to decarbonise.
The challenge of decarbonisation
A combination of reducing energy demand by making homes more energy effi cient and converting heating systems to a low-carbon alternative will be required to reduce emissions from heating homes. The 86% of UK homes currently connected to the natural gas grid must be replaced with low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps, heat networks, and potentially hydrogen gas. The suitability of these low-carbon technologies depends on factors such as location, property type and which heating system is already in use. Heating is one of the most diffi cult sectors to
decarbonise due to its scale, cost, and complexity. But manufacturers are committed to walking the long road to decarbonisation, despite there being no quick fi x. There is still time for other technologies to be developed further such as hydrogen-ready boilers and boilers that can modulate down to lower outputs, there is also the option for boilers to be converted or completely overhauled – all of which pose huge challenges for manufacturers.
The big three Heat pumps, heat networks and hydrogen gas are
Above: Sean Keleher, technical director for Navien UK,
the three main heating technologies considered by the government in its Heat and Buildings Strategy.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps are one of the most eco-conscious solutions on the market, eff ective at reducing carbon emissions and energy bills in properties across the UK. It will play such a pivotal role in the decarbonisation challenge that the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s (DESNZ’s) ambition for the number of hydronic heat pumps installed per year by 2028 is 600,000 units. To increase demand, the government has boosted
the grant available for heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £7,500, up from £5,000 for an air source heat pump and £6,000 for a ground or water source heat pump. However, heat pumps are still viewed as one of the more expensive options which is why DESNZ’s ambition is for the industry to reduce costs by at least 25% by 2025 compared to 2021. Beyond cost, it is important to note that heat pumps are not a ‘one type fi ts all’ kind of technology. Traditional properties may not have the correct electrical supplies that are required, and they can be rather noisy if grouped between terraced houses. Space is also something to consider, as they can be diffi cult to house.
Heat networks
Heat networks use hot water in pipes to deliver heating (and in some cases cold water for cooling) to multiple dwellings, particularly in dense urban environments, from a centralised heat source. Heat
28 May 2024
Sean Keleher, technical director for Navien UK, explores the challenge of decarbonising heating and provides insight into how manufacturers such as Navien UK, are innovating in response
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