The UK Government’s declaration of a Climate Emergency in May 2019 has radically escalated the pace at which the UK must decarbonise its housing stock. Heating in homes accounts for 10% of the nation’s carbon footprint and homes are more significant than all other building types put together. No surprise then, that our 3rd Climate Emergency event shone a spotlight on Heat in homes, and the race to replace gas.
Prof Andy Ford gave the opening address, saying as we explore which technologies should replace mains gas, the sector has grave concerns that the decision could be derailed by vested interests, as happened to the Zero Carbon Homes legislation previously.
As Prof Ford stated: “The technology choices we make now will echo down the generations. We cannot make this a race of competitive interests.”
The first speaker, Dr Jan Rosenow demonstrated how the UK’s carbon intensity in heating remains one of the worst in Europe. Dr Rosenow stressed how we must go further and faster to switch to technologies such as heat pumps, which at our current speed of deployment would take 700 years to install. He spoke of the complexities of the problem, both as Director of European Programmes at RAP and as a homeowner who has retrofitted his own house - a fact which attracted much interest from our audience. Dr Rosenow concluded the policy and pricing of gas are major factors in the drive to decarbonise, and he has been invited back to expand on this topic at the next Heat event in June 2021.
There were then two illuminating talks from two speakers whose modelling and scenario planning expertise helped clarify this complex topic. Monica Donaldson-Balan discussed the challenges and requirements for three different technology pathways – all electric, all hydrogen, and a hybrid future - from a study conducted for the Net-Zero Infrastructure Industry Coalition. Dr Graeme Hawker of Strathclyde looked at modelling from the human behavioural angle, warning that human behaviour – for example fuel poverty - can skew demand forecasting, so we need to be cautious when we decide which technology fits a particular setting. Both agreed a hybrid model with decentralisation of energy is the way forward.
From demonstrator projects around the UK, Mark Hewitt, Director of ICAX, (the name behind the Balanced Energy Networks around campus), showcased two examples of balanced energy networks, proving the point that heat pumps are ‘incredibly social’ and integrate well with other technologies. Mike Jenkins from Bridgend Borough Council shared a visionary scheme from Caerau, Wales, employing three different decentralised energy solutions across a post-industrial mining town, using a redundant mine as the heat source.
The final speaker, Dr Richard Lowes of Exeter, rounded up with ‘What is the Value of Hydrogen for Heating?’ He came back to Prof Ford’s point, that there is a lot of lobbying by incumbents, and many, many unanswered issues. Dr Lowes concluded that the future must be electric. Whilst hydrogen has its place, it will not be a like-for-like replacement for the gas grid, rather used topically in mini-grids and decentralised solutions. To parody a famous 70’s beer campaign Dr Lowes quipped: “Hydrogen reaches the parts other heat systems cannot reach”.
The audience then enjoyed a lively panel discussion. Regrettably, many questions were left unanswered due to time constraints. No surprise then, tickets are already being snapped up for ‘How on Earth?’, the Earth Day special event on 22nd April 2021 exploring the massive change management project facing our sector.
The next Heat event will be on June 24th 2021, where there is a splendid line up and an opportunity to respond to all the audience’s questions and more. Details will be released shortly.
