PHAM NEWS | MARCH 2025 14 Energy Matters


Trial to show how heat can be used from data centres


British Gas has partnered with Heata, a sustainable cloud computing provider, to trial a novel system that harnesses waste heat from home-based servers to provide hot water. Heata’s model distributes cloud computing workloads to servers in homes. The heat generated by a data


centre during processing is a waste product, and energy- intensive cooling systems are required to stop the servers from overheating. To overcome this, Heata has created a ‘virtual data centre’ – a network of servers distributed to people’s homes. Each server is attached to the


home’s hot water cylinder, and as they process data, the heat they generate is transferred into the water. This reduces the energy needed to heat water in the home, and as this is typically provided by gas boilers, it reduces the amount


of gas used, lowering the carbon impact as a result. heata pays for the electricity the heata unit uses, which means the household pays less to heat their hot water. As part of a three-month trial,


10 heata units will be installed in the homes of British Gas employees, and the energy provider’s computing workloads will be processed on these units. As a result, British Gas will be providing free hot water for its own employees as a byproduct of their own cloud compute. The trial will provide feedback


around performance and customer experience, as well as demonstrating the associated CO2 and energy cost savings.


According to heata, the devices can provide up to 4kWh of hot water per day, with the technology expected to save households up to £340 per year when offsetting electrically heated hot water, and up to £120 when offsetting gas heated hot water. Chris Jordan, co-founder of


Heata, comments: “This trial with British Gas is an exciting step and we hope other businesses will follow suit. With a small change to where they place their data processing, businesses throughout the UK could be supporting their communities as a byproduct of their cloud computing.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/325/11


Record renewable figures in January


January marked a record month for renewable energy installations in the UK, with a total of 23,021 systems certified, representing a 26% increase over the same month last year, according to the latest data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The surge in installations was


driven primarily by a significant rise in battery storage systems, which achieved their highest


monthly figures to date. Over 2,600 battery storage installations were recorded, reflecting a 176% increase compared to January 2024. Heat pump installations also


saw a notable rise, with 4,902 units installed in January, marking a 21% increase from January 2024. This brings the total number of certified heat pump installations in the UK to 280,992.


The MCS Data Dashboard


serves as a comprehensive source of information regarding the uptake of small-scale renewable technologies in the UK. For those interested in tracking near-real-time updates on renewable installations, free registration for the MCS Data Dashboard is available (to find out more, please use the online link below). ◼ phamnews.co.uk/325/12


Call for government clarity on banning gas boilers


The government has been criticised for backtracking on its commitment to implement the 2035 boiler ban and for not setting out clear plans for low-carbon heating in new homes. Renewable energy specialist Geo Green Power has warned that a policy U-turn will risk stalling progress toward the UK’s green energy ambitions and delaying its climate and net- zero targets. “Residential homes contribute around 13% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the main source of emissions coming from the use of natural gas for heating and cooking,” explains Kat Auckland, communications and projects director at Geo Green Power. “Given the devastating impact of the climate crisis it is nonsensical that new homes are being built without low carbon technologies such as heat pumps and solar PV.”


As it stands, it’s still unclear


whether there will be a ban on fossil fuel heating being installed in new homes, which could come


as part of the Future Homes Standard being published later in the year. These new regulations will lay out the requirements developers will have to follow to ensure that new homes are built in a low-carbon way, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from housing by as much as 75-80%. Auckland argues: “With the right policies, the renewable energy industry is ready to meet this challenge. We’ve already done it with solar panels – solar PV installation tripled during the energy crisis to meet demand – and we can do the same with heat pumps.


“We understand the


government’s position in wanting to ensure that technology is cost effective before imposing legislation. However, a clear policy deadline would benefit the industry, increasing demand and competition and helping to support innovation and cost reduction. It would also send a clear message to homeowners and housebuilders across the country.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/325/13


Wembley opening for Daikin facility Backing for electrification


Underfloor heating specialist, Gaia, has come out in support of BEAMA’s ‘Accelerating Electrification’ campaign which aims to encourage investment within the UK electrical supply chain to help decarbonise the nation’s energy, heat and transport infrastructure. Gaia claims that underfloor heating is set to play a key role in the


future of heating, with systems like electric mats and cables as well as wet underfloor heating powered by heat pumps already helping to decarbonise the sector. “Electrification is essential for decarbonising heating, and underfloor


heating will be key,” says company director Steven Rooney. “While the government setting targets is a strong start, more investment, a detailed roadmap and clear guidance are needed to achieve these Net Zero targets, which is why this campaign is so important.”


◼ phamnews.co.uk/325/14


Continuing its commitment to upskill heating engineers on low-carbon solutions, Daikin has opened a new Sustainable Home Centre in Wembley. The centres provide local engineers with access to free training courses and are also designed to help educate homeowners on the benefits of sustainable and low-carbon home heating, supporting anyone considering the transition. The Wembley centre is a


collaborative effort between Daikin and Infinity Energy Organisation, a company that provides innovative technologies and services, including energy- efficient products, training hubs, and expert consultancy. Additionally, the company assists clients in accessing government grants and schemes, making the transition to sustainable energy solutions more affordable. Visitors to the Sustainable


Home Centre will be able to experience Daikin’s latest heat pump technology and meet experts in the field. The centre aims to empower installers to embrace renewable heating and to encourage them to replace


a boiler, old heat pump, or any other heat source with the Daikin


Altherma HHT to receive £500 cashback or credit with Daikin (full T&Cs can be found on daikin. co.uk/cashback).


◼ phamnews.co.uk/325/15


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