Heat Pumps Today

22 The launch of the government's Green Heat Network Fund at the end of December 2022 boosted the prospects of using heat pumps in heat network delivery. Tim Mitchell, sales director of Klima-Therm, explains Heating accounts for almost half of all the energy consumed in the UK with most used for space heating and hot water in buildings. The majority of this demand is currently met by burning natural gas, which is responsible for pumping thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the government’s Carbon Plan ( https://bit.ly/3X4tEW9 ), which sets out how the UK will achieve decarbonisation within the context of its energy policy, the emissions from buildings will need to be reduced practically to zero by 2050. This implies virtually the complete eradication of carbon emissions from the heating sector. In response to this huge challenge, the government developed a strategic framework for low carbon heating ( https://bit.ly/3GTQZ7g ), which specifies a basis for decarbonising the heating sector while also providing secure February | March 2023 T E C H N I C A L supplies of a… ordable heat to support a growing economy. One of the best ways to achieve low carbon heat is to move away from natural gas and towards electrified heating systems via a decarbonised electricity grid, and heat networks are recognised as an important part of this process. District heating However, to achieve significant carbon emissions reductions using district heating, heat in the networks must be provided by low carbon sources. Together with decarbonisation of the electricity grid, integrating heat pumps into heat networks (also known as communal/district heating schemes) o… ers an excellent opportunity to cut carbon dioxide emissions dramatically. Heat networks supply heat from a central source to consumers via a web of underground pipes carrying hot water. They are most eˆcient and cost e… ective in heat dense areas, where pipes can be shorter between properties. The current penetration of heat networks in the UK is low – estimated at around 2% of total heat demand. However, heat networks are increasingly being recognised as a valuable weapon in the decarbonisation armoury. Tim Mitchell, sales director of Klima-Therm Warming to a new form of low carbon heating