10109014Improving environmental performance of solid fuel heating systems - phase 2ClosedSmall Business Research InitiativeInnovate UKIn the UK, solid fuel stoves have grown in popularity over the past few years, driven by increasing fuel costs, the perception that they are low-carbon, as well as lifestyle trends. However, the rapid rise in particulate air pollution (PM2.5, PM1) from domestic wood burning is considered unequivocal both in the scientific and mainstream press. Solid fuel burning also produces several volatile organic compounds/semi volatile organic compounds (VOCs/SVOCs), some of which can be particularly damaging to human health. The UK Stove Industry Alliance has ramped up its literacy campaign to inform the consumers on the benefits of Ecodesign compliant stoves since the regulation for solid fuel space heating appliances came into force in the UK in Jan 2022\. Reportedly, DEFRA approved stoves increase indoor PM2.5 by 196% and PM1 by 228%, mainly attributed to PM flooding incidents during opening of stove door during refuelling, compared to non-use control environments (http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/atmos11121326). However, to date the sector's major attention has been on improving its energy efficiency and CO2 reduction. This project is a collaboration between scientists (De Montfort University, University of Leicester), industrial stove manufacturers (Carron, Ecco Stove) and a post-burn emission capture system developer to ensure a technology- and practice-informed design of an innovative and efficient wood burning stove with reduced emissions of harmful pollutants in the indoor space and wider atmosphere. Our Phase1 project focused on improving wood burning stoves by successfully evaluating two improvement mechanisms in reducing PM and VOC emissions to indoor living space during opening of the stove door. The Phase 2 project extends this to field testing as well as improving post-burning emissions capture through evaluation of an additional mechanism. Our solution intertwines the UK government's clean air strategic priority with the needs for switching from fossil-free heating in the face of the gas crisis. Coupling of the three proposed interventions would improve heat recovery/distribution, overcome the issue of VOC formation in the combustion chamber and PM flooding via the stove door into the living space as well as PM capture in the flue post-heat recovery, thus contributing to a far more sustainable heating and air quality solution than currently available. Over Phase 2, the project team will adopt a comprehensive approach to pre-commercial development through field evaluation and customer feedbacks to improve its commercialisation potential. We consider it an effective solution to transform domestic solid fuel heating system while preserving the air quality.