Many types of low carbon heat technologies produce no direct emissions at all

That is just one of the findings outlined in a new report produced by ACE Research, working with Energy Saving Trust. Created for the Scottish Government’s ClimateXChange unit, the paper explores the extent to which there are any direct, in-building GHG emissions associated with low and zero carbon heating technologies, in order to inform approaches to zero emission heating technologies within future building regulations. This is critical to properly defining zero direct emission heating technologies and setting out the role they will play on the pathway to Scotland slashing all emissions by 100%, relative to 1990 levels by 2045.Titled “Direct GHG emissions from low and zero carbon heating systems”, the report investigates the potential of technologies including heat pumps, biomass and hydrogen gas to reduce the on-site GHG emissions generated by a building.Direct emissions refer to those generated by a heating system at point of use, within the total grounds of the building. This is an important component for informing approaches to net-zero buildings in terms of recommended technologies for space and water heating.This research highlights: Direct GHG emissions from direct electric heaters, electric storage heaters, electric boilers, solar thermal technologies, heat pumps, heat networks and fuel cells are found to be zero.  Biomass combustion is not zero direct GHG emissions but offers significant direct GHG emissions savings compared to fossil fuel-based heating. However, a lack of comprehensive data in this area means savings cannot yet be accurately calculated. The report notes biomass systems show significantly lower GHG emissions than the baseline GHG emissions from a natural gas boiler, with most biomass technologies emitting less than 2% of the total natural gas boiler baseline GHG emissions, when taking the whole lifecycle of emissions into account. Similarly, the report finds a lack of comprehensive data to accurately calculate savings enabled by hydrogen combustion (such as in a hydrogen boiler) and is unable to make conclusive recommendations as a result - nonetheless, it notes that like biomass, hydrogen is associated with significantly lower direct GHG emissions compared to the baseline figures. Provisional modelling in this report suggests GHG emissions from hydrogen combustion could be less than 0.1% of the total natural gas baseline. However, there is no direct data, and other evidence is currently too limited to support a firm estimate.The scope of the report covers direct GHG emissions, because although the wider net zero targets require all GHG emissions to be addressed, heating system specifiers usually have little or no influence over the GHG intensity of the electricity, gas or external heat supplies available. It therefore makes sense to require those specifiers to meet limits on in-building GHG emissions specifically.Kieran Sinclair, Heat Policy Manager at the ADE, said:The UK and Scotland specifically have already made brilliant progress in decarbonising electricity supplies, but now we urgently need to tackle decarbonisation of our heat.Whilst the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated by different fossil fuel combustion systems is relatively widely understood, less research has been conducted into the impacts of installing, operating and decommissioning heating systems, including those considered to be low or zero carbon. This research aims to fill that knowledge gap and help guide the legislation that is so critically needed to encourage the rapid development of truly low carbon heating solutions, such as the system of heat networks that will need to be quickly deployed to decarbonise the UK’s towns and cities by 2050.Notes to editors:About the new build heat standard consultation: Part IIThe Scottish Government is developing regulations which will, from 1 April 2024, prohibit the use of direct emissions heating systems in new buildings: both domestic and non-domestic. The Government is now in a position to provide further details on its intention to regulate heating systems in new buildings, and it is seeking stakeholder views on a number of key issues relating to these proposals. Click here to find out more.About heat networks A heat network scheme comprises a network of insulated pipes used to deliver heat from the point of generation, in the form of hot water or steam, to an end user. Heat networks provide the means to transport heat efficiently and can be supplied with heat from a diverse range of sources including power stations, waste-to-energy facilities, biomass boilers and CHP plants, gas-fired CHP units, heat pumps, electric boilers and even solar thermal arrays.About the ADE The ADE is bringing energy together to advocate on the priorities for the UK in achieving net zero. We have over 150 members organisations and together we are driving the decarbonisation of heat, championing the role of industry in the green transition and pushing for UK homes, places of work and public services to be energy efficient and smart. Only by getting users engaged and investing in energy efficiency, low carbon heat and providing smart flexibility will be the UK truly be able to decarbonise its energy system. For this to happen, energy must work for the user. At the ADE, we believe that an energy system designed around the user’s needs, enabling the right technology choice in the right place, serves everyone better.  About ACE ResearchACE Research has a strong reputation for high quality work in the areas of policy research, specifically in respect to frameworks for implementing national, regional and local energy policy in buildings, barriers to and opportunities for effective implementation and the roles of different stakeholders therein. Whist independent to the ADE, the research team works closely with the ADE’s policy team, working on a range of heat and power policy and programme areas.http://www.cse.org.uk/For further information please contact:Jonny BairstowHead of External AffairsAssociation for Decentralised Energy+44 (0) 7305 049584jonny.bairstow@theade.co.uk