Modern Building Services

16 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES NOVEMBER 2021 FEATURE NET ZERO NET ZERO I n line with the government’s objectives to achieve net-zero before 2050, heat networks have been proposed as a solution to help meet the UK’s need for decarbonisation in the coming years. While the goal is to meet net-zero through a significant reduction of emissions, heating is a major category to address. With 2050 still several decades off, different technologies powering the networks should be considered to ensure heat networks are effective in helping achieve the government’s net-zero targets. With the recent release of the long-awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy from Government, it is clear that the case for heat networks has been significantly strengthened. They have long been seen as a technology that has “low regrets” credentials with the flexibility to adapt to however the future energy networks evolve. Heat networks are also perhaps one of the least criticised elements of the strategy by those who see the proposals as not meeting the level of uplift needed in transitioning our heat energy to low carbon sources. The Heat and Building Strategy dovetails into several other strategy and consultation documents that cover heat. Most notably for heat networks is the consultation underway looking at how heat network zones could become a reality. Very much focused at initial area planning stage with significant involvement from Local Authorities, zoning has the potential to boost the development of heat networks in major cities and towns across England. The intention is to reduce the risk to heat network private investment that comes from the uncertainty in take up of key heat loads within an area. Key criteria One of the key criteria for any zone will be that it represents the least cost option to low carbon heat sources. This means capital cost have to be kept under control. Many observers see heat pumps as the primary option for heat network projects, as they are powered by electricity, an energy source that is well on its way to reduced carbon emissions. This solution could be a limiting factor for heat network’s future flexibility, which is why a hybrid is the proposed alternative. Several aspects would need to be tackled before we will be able to decarbonise existing heat networks. To start this process, trials are underway across the country. However, time is not on the industry’s side following the government’s want to decarbonise all existing heat networks by 2035, which is not a long way off. Large and small scheme developers will face issues looking into existing heat networks and will need to work around the challenges that arise during the process. Larger and smaller schemes Across the UK there is a difference between large district schemes and smaller communal heat networks, where at an estimate there is something like 2,000 district heat networks compared to 11,000 communal networks. Hybrid heat networks could pave the way for net-zero Pete Mills , Commercial Technical Operations Manager at Bosch Commercial & Industrial, discusses heat networks place on the road to net-zero.