Challenges in decarbonising space heating in the UK

8 pages•Published: December 11, 2023

Abstract

The British climate means that space heating is an important element of the national energy budget and is therefore a significant part of the challenge to meet the UK legal target of zero carbon by 2050. One of the solutions to this challenge is the widespread deployment of heat pumps to replace gas fuelled heating systems in buildings. Heat pumps are electrically driven and can be highly efficient. The increase in renewable sources of electricity has made electricity comparable to gas in terms of carbon intensity. However, this method of heating buildings places greater strain on the National Grid. This study examines a heat pump installation in an existing educational building previously heated by gas. Temperatures and heat outputs were logged for a typical space within the building for a defined period when weather conditions imposed a large load. Data indicated that the heat pump system coped with abnormally low outside temperatures, though further fine-tuning of controls and refinement of other services is necessary to limit the increase in electrical demand.

Keyphrases: Decarbonisation, heat pumps, space heating

In: Tom Leathem, Wesley Collins and Anthony J. Perrenoud (editors). Proceedings of 59th Annual Associated Schools of Construction International Conference, vol 4, pages 462--469

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/WTVc
	https://doi.org/10.29007/8s28