A Network for Heating and Cooling Research to Enable a Net-Zero Carbon Future (H+C Zero Network)
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
Decarbonising both heating and cooling across residential, business and industry sectors is fundamental to delivering the recently announced net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets. Such a monumental change to this sector can only be delivered through the collective advancement of science, engineering and technology combined with prudent planning, demand management and effective policy.
The aim of the proposed H+C Zero Network will be to facilitate this through funded workshops, conferences and secondments which in combination will enable researchers, technology developers, managers, policymakers and funders to come together to share their progress, new knowledge and experiences. It will also directly impact on this through a series of research funding calls which will offer seed funding to address key technical, economic, social, environmental and policy challenges.
The proposed Network will focus on the following five themes which are essential for decarbonising heating and cooling effectively:
Theme 1 Primary engineering technologies and systems for decarbonisation
Theme 2 Underpinning technologies, materials, control, retrofit and infrastructure
Theme 3 Future energy systems and economics
Theme 4 Social impact and end users' perspectives
Theme 5 Policy Support and leadership for the transition to net-zero
The aim of the proposed H+C Zero Network will be to facilitate this through funded workshops, conferences and secondments which in combination will enable researchers, technology developers, managers, policymakers and funders to come together to share their progress, new knowledge and experiences. It will also directly impact on this through a series of research funding calls which will offer seed funding to address key technical, economic, social, environmental and policy challenges.
The proposed Network will focus on the following five themes which are essential for decarbonising heating and cooling effectively:
Theme 1 Primary engineering technologies and systems for decarbonisation
Theme 2 Underpinning technologies, materials, control, retrofit and infrastructure
Theme 3 Future energy systems and economics
Theme 4 Social impact and end users' perspectives
Theme 5 Policy Support and leadership for the transition to net-zero
Planned Impact
A net-zero carbon future requires monumental changes which can only be delivered through the collective advancement of science, engineering and technology combined with prudent planning, demand management, societal acceptance and effective policy. Such changes will be transformative to individuals, industrial organisations, business and leaders. The proposed H+C Zero Network will cut across technology, whole-energy system, economics, social science, environmental assessment and policy. This will be realised through the delivery of a series of proposed activities that will encourage researchers, technology developers, managers, policymakers and funders to come together, share progress, new knowledge and experience, and consequently establish a strong research-industry-government-society network. The success will position the UK as a world leader in the climate change challenge.
Organisations
- Durham University (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- Church of England (Collaboration)
- Energy Systems Catapult (Project Partner)
- POWER ROLL LIMITED (Project Partner)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Project Partner)
- Association for Decentralised Energy (Project Partner)
- The Institute of Materials (Project Partner)
- The Chartered Institute of Building (Project Partner)
- AGFW (Energy Efficiency Association) (Project Partner)
- Dept for Sci, Innovation & Tech (DSIT) (Project Partner)
- Energy Networks Association (Project Partner)
- Royal Academy of Engineering (Project Partner)
- E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd (Project Partner)
- Kensa Group Ltd (Project Partner)
- Confederation of Paper Industries (Project Partner)
- NMAM Institute of Technology (Project Partner)
- National Institute of Technology Karnata (Project Partner)
- Heat Pump Association (Project Partner)
- Star Refrigeration Ltd (Project Partner)
- CIEMAT (Ctr for Energy, Env & Tech Res) (Project Partner)
- North East Process Industry ClusterNEPIC (Project Partner)
- University of Sheffield (Project Partner)
- Durham County Council (Project Partner)
- Narec Distributed Energy (Project Partner)
- Nanyang Technological University (Project Partner)
- Leuphana University (Project Partner)
- The Climate Change Committe (Project Partner)
- Tata Steel (UK) (Project Partner)
- Euroheat & Power (Project Partner)
- GT Energy UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- European Energy Research Alliance AISBL (Project Partner)
- Nestle UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- GE (General Electric Company) UK (Project Partner)
- SINTEF Energi AS (Energy Research) (Project Partner)
- Agility Eco Services Ltd (Project Partner)
- Mineral Products Association (Project Partner)
Publications
Barnes J
(2024)
Accelerating heat pump diffusion in the UK: emergent tensions and priority areas for change
in Oxford Open Energy
De Mel I
(2023)
A decision-support framework for residential heating decarbonisation policymaking
in Energy
Giampieri A
(2022)
An overview of solutions for airborne viral transmission reduction related to HVAC systems including liquid desiccant air-scrubbing.
in Energy (Oxford, England)
Griffiths I
(2024)
Solid oxide fuel cells with integrated direct air carbon capture: A techno-economic study
in Energy Conversion and Management
Konar S
(2024)
Revisiting Solid-Solid Phase Transitions in Sodium and Potassium Tetrafluoroborate for Thermal Energy Storage.
in Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society
Thinsurat K
(2022)
Compressor-assisted thermochemical sorption integrated with solar photovoltaic-thermal collector for seasonal solar thermal energy storage
in Energy Conversion and Management: X
| Description | Collaboration with Church of England |
| Organisation | Church of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We have applied for additional IAA funding to support collaboration with the Church of England on a small project to review the decarbonisation options for 3 local churches and Durham Cathedral. The project utilised the resource of 2 Durham Researchers (Dr Andrew Smallbone and Dr Yousaf Khalid) to model and assess the impacts of different technical and behavioural options. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Church of England contributed their time and energy usage and building material data for analysis. CofE representatives also participated in development workshops and contributed to the final report. |
| Impact | This project has resulted in a report, presented to the CofE in 2022 and a publication, listed elsewhere. The CofE have subsequently established a register of churches within the Durham Diocese with the aim of identifying exemplars and assisting in supporting all churches in the region with best practice guidance. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Heat4All - Flexibility Fund Award No.1 |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Network H+C funded this project and contributed to identifying relevant project stakeholders and research to consider within the project itself. Network H+C has published the project report, recorded and published a presentation on the research findings and continues to include project researchers within Network activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Surrey University applied for funding for this project from the Network, and produced a proposal that was developed in collaboration to meet the aims of the Network funding and themes. The project identified and contributed to gaps in research understanding of the impacts of policy on fuel poverty, energy usage and technology adoption for residents within the region/ |
| Impact | This project resulted in a project report and creation of new research and new relationships between Surrey University and project partners in Woking Borough Council to review the carbon and societal impacts of a range of decarbonisation policies for residents in the Borough. The report identifies the impacts of Council policy on vulnerable households and has been utilised by WBC in its forward planning of policy intervention and is multi-disciplinary across science, societal and economic disciplines. The project will also produce publications. TBC |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Annual Conference - Decarbonising Heat Programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Network H+C organised a 2 day conference to bring together all of the academics involved in the EPSRC Decarbonisation Programme. This enabled the academics involved to identify synergies, make new connections and discuss collaborations across the project programme. Feedback from all attendees were that they found it a useful event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Decarbonisation of Heat - Sandpit November 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A Sandpit event to present and develop project ideas for the flexible funding of the Network. 6 projects were developed including Early Career Researchers and across multiple academic organisations. The call required new relationships in all funded projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Exhibition of activities at the EPSRC NetZero Showcase June 21-23rd 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Attendance at the EPSRC NetZero Showcase event in Glasgow. We prepared posters, videos and a display to engage with attendees. An opportunity to network with all of the EPSRC NetZero portfolio. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Heat Innovation Sprint |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A 2 day Innovation Sprint working with Northern PowerGrid, Coal Authority, Church of England and Durham County Council to address some of their heat challenges. The ideas produced for the Church of England and Coal Authority have been taken forward within those organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Heat Pump Trials Workshop - January 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This workshop aimed to bring together practitioners involved in studying and implementing heat pump technology in residences across the UK. The workshop invited practitioners from all sectors to share experiences, identify research gaps and provide knowledge and best practice on heat pump trials in the UK and overseas to date. The workshop was hosted jointly by the Energy Systems Catapult and Oxford Energy Institute. The Workshop also produced a Library of Case Studies of all UK Heat Pump Trials to date and will produce a best practice guide to future heat pump trials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Heating and Cooling Network Webinar programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following Covid19 Lockdown, Network H+C has managed a monthly programme of webinars featuring presentations from all of the Decarbonising Heat projects, together with presentations from researchers and practitioners involved in relevant areas of heating and cooling. These webinars are recorded and uploaded to the Durham Energy Institute YouTube Channel and are openly accessible to all. Over the past 18 months these webinars have reached thousands of interested viewers across the world and provide a resource for anyone interested in the challenges of decarbonising Heating and Cooling |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/c/DurhamEnergyInstitute?app=desktop |
| Description | Presentation at Parliamentary Briefing - 8th March 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Network H+C researcher attended a parliamentary briefing, hosted by Durham MP Mary Foy on March 8th 2023. The event consisted of presentations and networking with Durham led Heat research projects and invited parliamentary guests. New contacts were established and the profile of the Network was raised within parliamentary and energy research groupings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation at the Durham Energy Institute Symposium - September 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on the work of the Network to the Symposium attendees and inclusion in a panel debate on Decarbonising Heat |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Programme of Network H+C Webinars January 2022-February 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The programme has delivered the following 20 minute presentations over Zoom - broadcast on a monthly basis. 27th January 2023 - "Opportunities and costs for shared ground heat exchange" 27th January 2023 - "Balanced Heating and Cooling Networks - Modelling" 2nd December 2022 - "Towards a Circular Economy for Cooling" 2nd December 2022 - "Low carbon climate-responsive buildings" 28th October 2022 - "Dispatchable Air Conditioning in Indian Homes (DAC)" 28th October 2022 - "Community-scale Energy Demand Reduction in India" 30th September 2022 - "SmartSquare at Warwick University" 30th September 2022 - "Heat4All" 24th June 2022 - "Integrating seasoNal Thermal storagE to decArbonise Energy" 24th June 2022 - "Characterisation of Metal Hydride Alloys for Heat Pumps" 27th May 2022 - "Flex-Cool-Store" 27th May 2022 - "Church Decarbonisation" 22nd April 2022 - "Materials for Sustainable Heat" 22nd April 2022 - "Materials for Sustainable Heat" 25th March 2022 - "Energy Futures Lab" 25th March 2022 - "Ground Source Heat Pump Innovation" 18th February 2022 - "The future of Home Heating" 18th February 2022 - "Geothermal Regulation" 28th January 2022 - "Heat decarbonisation in the midst of a global gas crisis" 28th January 2022 - "Network Impacts of Electrification of Heat" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HWcQDX2Kg_O2o8wOJrp2w |
| Description | Video on Decarbonising Heat for COP26 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Preparing and presenting a brief video on the Decarbonisation of Heat for presentation and broadcast at COP26. The video was also saved to the Durham Energy Institute YouTube Channel. The film was broadcast continuously over 3 days of COP26 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9wgGQRFF4c |