26 minute read
The Warren Report
Andrew Warren is chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation
09.21
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The conundrum facing European policy makers
The EU’s Fit for 55 programme will challenge politicians to ensure that large sections of the European population are not disadvantaged by regulations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The UK must follow their lead
This autumn the UK government is finally due to publish in detail precisely what steps will be taken during this decade to realise its testing net zero climate change ambitions.
There has been much speculation as to what it may contain. So, it is instructive to cast eyes over the Channel, to observe how our former partners in the European Union are handling matters.
Just before the summer break, the European Commission issued its own “Fit for 55” programme. This is a mega-package of a dozen regulatory instruments aimed at cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent between 1990 and 2030, a key step toward the long-term goal of becoming climate neutral by mid-century. Making it happen will impact the personal choices and bank accounts of Europeans of every class.
The EC is demanding changes to everything from the cars people drive, to how they heat their homes, whether they can take a cheap flight on holiday, and even if their current jobs will exist in the new, clean and green economy. Brussels is well aware that if it gets the balance wrong, the result could be a continent-wide political backlash.
Corinne Le Quéré, chair of France’s High Council on Climate, believes there is “absolutely” a chance these policies will spark rebellious public responses. The Yellow Jackets movement’s explosive reaction to a 2018 fuel tax hike in France is now political folklore in Brussels.
Germany’s September federal elections are another early test of the political cost of shifting climate change-mitigating measures into national law. In particular, because the leader of the Greens, Annalena Baerbock, is a genuine prospect to win the chancellorship. When the campaign got underway, the Greens were hit by their rivals for their plans to raise fuel taxes and shift traffic from short-haul flights to railways — even though the parties in the governing coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats also support some form of these policies.
Coal miners a shrinking, but powerful lobby
Armin Laschet, the conservative Christian Democrats’ candidate for chancellor, is accusing his competitors of “ending the dream of a summer vacation” with their calls for a minimum airline ticket price.
In Warsaw, the EU’s climate policy was already a major political challenge. Poland relies on coal for about 70 per cent of its electricity as well as about 40 per cent of home heating. The government’s energy strategy calls for a very gradual retreat from coal — it is meant to be phased out by 2049, the year before the whole EU is supposed to become climate neutral — but that plan is increasingly at odds with fast-rising ETS permit prices. The country has already scrapped the construction of a big coal-fired power plant, and electric utilities are scrambling for the exits.
Coal miners are a shrinking, but still a politically powerful lobby, and the nationalist ruling party is wary of angering them as talk of an early election increases.
This summer, as Irish politicians were preparing to vote on the country’s landmark Climate Action Bill, designed to implement Europe’s climate goals, Michael Healy-Rae, an independent MP from South Kerry, posted a video on his Facebook page. In the monologue, Healy-Rae attacked the Bill for the burden that he said it would place on peat production, tourism and farming.
In the Dáil, Ireland’s parliament, where the climate bill was overwhelmingly passed, Healy-Rae was a lonely voice. But the video was viewed 392,000 times, 23 times the number of people
who voted for Healy-Rae in the 2020 election.
Public anxiety that the price of climate cuts will be unfairly borne by those who can’t afford it gives such groups a platform to broaden their appeal by attacking any policy that can be branded as elitist.
The Commission faces a similar bind. On the one hand, Timmermans believes “we need everyone to do their part.” But who will be prepared to pay the political cost of carrying that message to the holidaymakers, drivers and households of Europe?
Tensions were already clear at the European Heads of Government Council in May when the leaders of Slovenia, Latvia, Poland and Luxembourg declared their opposition to the Commission’s plan to extend the EU:ETS to transport and buildings, on the basis that would unfairly hit their poorest citizens.
“The redistribution of these funds will be critical,” said Le Quéré, especially because the instruments are being imposed from Brussels.
A Commission spokesperson reckons “Fit for 55” weaves “anti-regressive” elements through the entire package. That includes expanding existing funds to help poorer countries. Home insulation schemes are also viewed as a measure that can ease fuel poverty. But when it comes to ensuring the costs of the policies don’t fall too hard on those who can least afford it, the European executive has “very limited” powers, the official said. That means Brussels carries much of the political risk, while national governments can choose whether and how to soften the blow.
In a last-minute attempt to wrest some control back from member countries, the package deliberately includes a new “social fund,” which would use revenue generated by the extension of emissions trading to road transport and buildings to compensate people who need to drive to work or better insulate their homes. The Commission text confirms it will be available in all EU countries, not just the poorer ones that normally benefit from the EU’s redistributive funds.
To meet its climate goals, the UK will need just as radical and just as inclusive policies as the EU. And every bit as great a determination to implement them.
Heating Technology
Mark Wilkins is technology and training director at Vaillant
The long and winding road
Reducing the energy use of its housing stock is a challenge for any local authority. Mark Wilkins examines how local authorities should make long-term plans for carbon reduction
Local authorities have a key role to play in helping to reach the Government’s net zero target by 20501 . Many combined authorities have ambitious climate targets with earlier delivery dates; with lowering the carbon footprint of their housing stock forming one of the key pillars in meeting carbon reduction goals.
However, co-ordinating improvement programmes over the long term can be a challenge. This is especially the case when projects are managed separately and at different times due to the way funding becomes available. For example, support for new boilers may be the focus of funding one year, cavity wall insulation the next, followed by solar PV panels sometime later, in turn affecting the specification of heating provision to ensure it remains viable for future changes further down the line. That’s why it is vital that a clear map of measures to reduce the carbon emissions from a housing portfolio includes imminent and upcoming projects as part of asset management plans to ensure targets are not missed.
Minimise heat loss
The Clean Growth Strategy set a target to upgrade as many houses to EPC B and C by 2035 “where practical, cost-effective and affordable”, and for all fuel poor households and as many rented homes as possible, to reach this standard by 2030. Minimising heat loss by improving the building fabric is the first step towards meeting this target and can be achieved via upgrades to building fabric such as windows, insulation, and doors.
Once the heat loss has been reduced, attention can then be turned to making further carbon savings by installing a low-carbon heating system.
While there are many possible routes to decarbonisation, there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution. Hydrogen is being considered as one of the possible technologies. Vaillant is supporting multiple projects
Heat pumps can provide a cost-effective solution to decarbonise homes
across the UK and Europe that are exploring how to make this vision a reality, such as HyDeploy at Keele University, using a blend of up to 20 per cent hydrogen with natural gas as a greener alternative. Work is also being carried out by Vaillant Group regarding the viability of using up to 100 per cent hydrogen, and several other trials are being run to further test the viability of using hydrogenonly boilers on a larger scale.
However, the use of hydrogen in heating is still very much in trial phases and we await clarity of when and where it will be available across the country. The expectation being that it won’t be until mid-2030s.
So, while hydrogen is on the agenda, there is still a long way to go until it can be used on a mass scale, either as a gas blend or as 100 per cent hydrogen. Heat pump technology, on the other hand, is available now. It has zero-emissions at point of use and meets both heating and hot water requirements, and the electricity used to power the units is increasingly being produced via renewable and low-carbon means. Once energy demand in the home is reduced through good insulation, heat pumps can provide a low
carbon and cost-effective solution to decarbonise housing stocks.
The type of low-carbon heating system eventually chosen may have an impact on any long-term asset management programme, keeping an eye on the future heating needs of a property and what is required to achieve it, could help minimise unnecessary costs. For example, if heat pump technology is the preferred route to decarbonise a building’s heat source, new pipework or larger heat emitters may be needed to ensure it can run at its most effective. So, if these are installed not long after a new kitchen or bathroom has been fitted, some of the previous work may have to be taken out or redone to retrofit new, larger-sized radiators or underfloor heating. Therefore, considering any future fabric upgrades before deciding to carry out refurbishments can ensure a simpler transition to low-carbon heating when the time comes.
Not every housing provider has a retrofit coordinator who is fully trained and qualified in the implementation of PAS 2035 standards, and able to contribute to a wider asset management strategy. Heating product manufacturers have recognised this issue and have established end-to-end support to help housing providers make that transition to low-carbon heating systems.
Whole-house approach
Taking the whole-house approach, Vaillant supported the Welsh School of Architecture on an innovative pilot project, upgrading the building fabric of four councilowned semi-detached bungalows alongside installing heat pumps. Designed to be self-sufficient for their energy needs, they were able to export surplus power back to the grid during the spring and summer months.
For public housing to make a significant dent in a local authority’s carbon reduction efforts, it requires a clear, long-term plan. By managing the decarbonisation of heating used in housing as part of a long-term asset management programme, carbon savings can be made across the buildings portfolio’s lifetime. The route to achieving this, whether that’s via heat pumps, hydrogen, or a hybrid system, will need to be considered on a property-byproperty basis as there is no one technology that will suit every home.
1) https://assets.publishing.service.gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/936567/10_ POINT_PLAN_BOOKLET.pdf
Heating Technology
Bill Sinclair is technical director at Adveco
When sizing does matter
Oversizing of domestic hot water supply is a common occurrence, says Bill Sinclair. It leads to higher capital costs, more complex system builds, longer installs, and higher fuel bills
As we push towards net zero, large-scale commercial renovation of properties to address emissions across the UK is a given. Faced with inherently more complex replacement systems, correct sizing should be a core aim and a prime opportunity to address costly oversized systems that unnecessarily contribute to building emissions.
Oversized systems can typically be attributed to the use of online sizing programmes, which are often treated as a simple DIY option. The problem is that for commercial projects faced with DHW systems that have many variables and decisions on diversity, sizing programmes will typically oversize to prevent perceived hot water problems. When specifying a DHW system, sizing should be based on the anticipated demand of the building (based on BS EN 12831-3). Within Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of fuel and power) for England & Wales is the demand that systems not be “significantly oversized,” but we would argue any oversizing will have a negative impact on the efficiency and operational costs of a DHW system. So accurate sizing is critical in terms of delivering an optimal thermal efficiency assessment.
Under Part L, the assessment of a DHW system is deemed to include the heat generator and any integral storage vessel, but will exclude all secondary pipework, fans, pumps, diverter valves, solenoids, actuator and supplementary storage vessels from the calculations. Despite this simplification, oversizing still occurs and this inherently comes from a lack of understanding of different types of hot water system, how they fit in the design software and the way that fluctuating demand for hot water impacts these systems at peak.
Dynamic water heater
When sizing a water system, the first thing to understand is the difference between a dynamic direct water heater system (with 20 minutes reheat) versus static storage (with a two hour heat up). Difficult to undersize, a dynamic water heater with high heat input and low storage will provide a 20 to 30 minute heat up time and will not be designed to go cold. Static storage, with a calorifier, can be undersized. Designed to dump then reheat, these systems will have a small heat
input, but offer large volume store, meaning it can take up to two hours to reheat. Any time the system draws hot water at a faster rate than can be heated to 44°C complaints are going to occur once the initial store is gone. At the opposite end of the scale, with a dynamic system, over design of the flow rate (by as much as 45 per cent) is unlikely to cause complaints. At least not from shower using occupants!
The simplest assumptions, such as the use of pillar taps rather than mixers or designing for a high percentage of baths rather than showers can lead to oversizing. It is also important to recognise that a gas-fired water heater is not a storage vessel. Under the EN89 seasonal efficiency test an indirect tank has storage losses that should be input into SBEM calculation. However, standing losses of the water heater are already included, if this figure is entered the losses are doubled up, which will cause the hot water system to fail analysis. This in turn commonly leads to systems being unnecessarily oversized to address the ‘failure’.
The second core requirement for correct sizing is understanding occupancy. Determined by the number of people and the type of building, the peak period represents the amount of hot water used in a period of time. ‘Peak hour’ as it is often referred to can, in reality, be any length of time, from just 15 minutes to continuous for eight hours, and range from normal to intensive use. For example, a hotel might reflect a normal usage curve, with peaks of demand in the morning for occupants showering, then over lunch and dinner from the restaurant. Offices will show a lower, but continuous demand.
So, sizing needs to be based on occupancy to accurately determine peak volume and peak length. This understanding and how it influences the hot water system is critical when sizing and why it is so important that sizing be carried out based on experience, test data, and supported by IOP/CIBSE G regulation. Modern dynamic systems will supply demand through a combination of storage and burner power. If the peak hour has been correctly identified, then a system will supply all other demand periods without needing to be oversized.
Simply put, oversizing is down to a lack of good design and a tendency to err on the side of caution by including additional factors of safety. The drive to integrate greater sustainability into DHW systems in the form of solar thermal and lower temperature air source heat pumps increases the complexity of systems and by default the chances of oversizing when using sizing programmes. From our perspective, all commercial sizing should be carried out with a 60°C supply and 10°C designed incoming cold mains temperature. These are temperatures optimised for commercial supply, storage and cleaning, as opposed to personal use (showering and bathing) which requires temperatures of 43°C.
Heating Technology
Paul Hamblyn is managing director of EuroSite Power
Currently a Green CHP system allows end users to report no emissions in Scope 1 under the SECR
The role of transitional technologies
Paul Hamblyn explains why large organisations shouldn’t wait for a “silver bullet” solution before decarbonising their heat and outlines the transitional technology that will get you on the road to net zero
Most energy managers don’t need reminding of the urgency of the climate crisis. Indeed, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) latest landmark report has been called a “code red for humanity” with global warming reaching a 1.5C rise sooner than predicted1 .
In 2019, buildings were responsible for 28 per cent of global energyrelated CO2 emissions, reaching an all-time high2. The problem for energy managers is that some areas are harder to decarbonise than others. But once the easy wins have been achieved, how do you tackle the tougher problems?
Most businesses will find heating and powering is a significant source of emissions. If heating is important for an organisation’s purpose, it is very likely to be the biggest barrier on the road to net zero, and also a significant cost.
Many businesses in heatingintensive sectors are already using combined heat and power (CHP) – a well-established technology that allows organisations to generate their own electricity on site - to reduce costs. Unfortunately, conventional CHP systems still need to burn fossil fuels. This can be a deal breaker for organisations who recognise that a net zero future means almost eliminating dirty fuel sources. But the key word here is “future”. Making decisions based on what needs to be happening in 2040 or 2050 means making the wrong choices for today – and actually slowing progress towards our climate goals.
Perhaps the answer lies with emerging technologies such as heat pumps, heat networks and hydrogen boilers? Well, perhaps in the future. The truth is none of them are a realistic option for use for many organisations today. For any organisation that has already embarked on its net zero journey, it’s simply not possible to wait for impractical solutions to become more practical or for unproven technologies – such as hydrogen - to come on stream and miss out on the opportunity to take action. This is where transitional technology can play a crucial role in cutting carbon emissions now.
Well-established technology
Luckily, there is already a way to drastically reduce emissions while using well-established technology. To help organisations on their net zero journey, we have developed an alternative to traditional CHP systems that we call Green CHP.
It works just like a conventional CHP system, burning gas to generate electricity and using the ‘waste’ heat for a process, heating and hot water. The difference is that the gas being burned is certified as renewable. Green gas, or biomethane, is created when bacteria breaks down organic matter. Capturing this natural byproduct of decay means creating a biogas that is 100 per cent renewable. It is carbon neutral because the emissions created through the decaying process are equal to the carbon that the material has absorbed from the atmosphere in its lifetime.
Organisations don’t need a special gas supply or differently designed equipment to take advantage of this approach. They simply continue using gas from the grid. But for every kWh of gas burned, we can certify that the equivalent amount of green gas has been produced and injected into the gas grid using Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs). RGGOs don’t physically track the flow of gas through the grid, but they track the transactions so that there is no double-counting or greenwash.
Thanks to schemes such as SECR, many businesses now have mandatory carbon reporting obligations, and it is likely that many more will have to do this in the future. Presently, a Green CHP system allows you to report no emissions in Scope 1 (because organisations are only burning certified renewable gas, so direct emissions are zero) and no emissions in Scope 2 (because they are generating and using their own electricity from a green source). Upstream emissions of green gas production and transportation do need to be reported as part of Scope 3 category 3 but only at the rate provided by the green gas certification scheme. So, stakeholders can see that businesses are taking climate goals seriously.
Green CHP may not be the heating system that an organisation uses in the future. But it is a transitional technology that can help them make huge progress on cutting emissions today. Not only is it economically practical, but businesses can also be protected from grid outages, because they are independently generating their own electricity.
We are confident that Green CHP offers a solution that will work for the vast majority of organisations with a year-round need for heat. And with years of experience providing energy solutions, we can work with them to identify exactly which system works for their individual needs as they progress on their sustainability journey.
References
1) https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/ 2) https://www.iea.org/reports/trackingbuildings-2020
Heating Technology
Hospital boiler upgrade with minimal disruption to patients and staff
ELCO Heating Solutions has supplied four TRIGON XXL EVO gas condensing boilers to The Wirral’s flagship Arrowe Park Hospital, as part of an important system upgrade.
The new boilers, which replaced old and inefficient models, are supplying heating and hot water to several areas of the hospital, including CAL 1, CAL 2 and the maternity wards.
In order to fulfil the hospital’s heating and hot water requirements, two TRIGON XXL EVO900 and two EVO1100 were specified from ELCO’s floor standing commercial boiler range.
The M&E consultants for the project were Wirral-based JD Engineering Ltd. Steve Roberts, project manager at JD Engineering Ltd, said: “The
Altecnic says its SATK32107 heat interface unit recorded industrybeating results during rigorous tests coordinated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).
The HIU, designed to achieve maximum efficiency on low temperature/heat pump lead networks, recorded the lowest VWART (Volume Weighted Average Return Temperature) and annual primary flow rate on the low temperature tests out of the 23 HIUs previously put through the standard, claims Altecnic.
The SATK32107 achieved a VWART figure of just 28C on the installation was relatively straightforward, as the existing flue system was already in place and the plant rooms were centrally located. We have previously fitted other ELCO units at the hospital, so we were confident the boilers would be able to deliver efficient heat distribution throughout the wards. We’ve been really pleased with the end result and are sure to use these models on other projects in the future.”
Ray Hughes, consulting engineer at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “The renovation went smoothly and we were impressed with how little downtime there was before the new units were up and running. As a result, there was minimal disruption to the staff and patients. Since they have been replaced, reliability has significantly improved compared to the previous boilers, while delivering low emissions – which enhances our green credentials.”
low temperature tests. VWART is a measure of efficiency and details the return temperatures that would be achieved on a typical UK project when the HIU is in all its operating modes. The resultant figure shows how good the HIU is at using the available energy from the network. The lower the number, the more efficient the HIU is.
The SATK32107 also recorded a very low required annual primary flow rate of 90.71m3. This means that when in operation on a lowtemperature network the SATK32107 requires less primary water than any other HIU so far tested. This reduces the amount of water circulating in the heat network reducing heat losses, energy use and carbon emissions. When looking at a typical project, the reduction in circulating water over a year can be the equivalent of five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Neil Parry, head of specification, said: “The performance of the SATK32107 allows you to future proof the heat network. If the building is currently utilising high temperature sources, such as CHP or boilers, then by installing the SATK32107 now, it becomes a much lower cost and simple exercise to convert the energy centre to heat pumps at some point in the future. The HIU’s will simply utilise the lower flow temperature and supply the demands required by the apartment without issue.”
Floor-standing boilers come to the aid of luxury Berkshire hotel
ATAG Commercial has supplied four floor-standing XL-F boilers to the Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford, Berkshire, replacing four ageing units as part of a major plant room renovation. This was the first installation of the XL-F in cascade in the UK.
In order to fulfil Littlecote House Hotel’s requirements, three XL210F and one XL180F floor-standing boilers were specified and installed in early 2021. The whole process was undertaken and managed by Fareham-based mechanical and electrical building service engineers, J&B Hopkins Ltd.
The new boilers benefit from dual heat exchanger technology, which provides built in redundancy, while creating a cascade system within a single unit. The XL-F boiler utilises ‘plug and play’ technology, with the pumps, water non-return valves and flue non-return valves neatly integrated said: “The project was devised with floor standing boilers in mind; in this arrangement, the high levels of efficiencies and reduced NOx emissions should ensure lower fuel bills for the hotel in the future. Plus, the after sales team at ATAG Commercial provided excellent technical back-up and support with any queries that we had which helped the project run smoothly.”
Remarking on the refurbishment, Dean Lavisher, Head of Facilities at Bourne Leisure Group added: “The new ATAG Commercial boilers achieve exactly what we needed for our guests. Ever since they were installed, we haven’t had any water issues whatsoever; the temperatures are now perfect and we never run out of hot water, as we have done in the past. We are now meeting our budgeted utilities targets, whereas before we struggled - while I’m sure we’ll benefit from more savings in the future.”
Heating Technology
UK’s first hydrogen house opens its doors as manufacturer prepares for low-carbon future
Baxi Heating has demonstrated its 100 per cent hydrogen boiler to customers and colleagues in the UK’s first hydrogen house.
Two homes in Low Thornley, near Gateshead, will show the use of hydrogen-fuelled appliances in a real-world setting and today Baxi invited housing providers and colleagues to see its boiler in action.
Baxi Heating has pledged to make only products compatible with low carbon energy from 2025, which means that gas boilers will be ‘hydrogenready’ and can be easily converted to work with hydrogen.
Nick Wilson, commercial and marketing director at Baxi Heating, said: “We are developing new technologies that will help customers to heat their homes and businesses without warming the planet.
“While we are not wedded to any one technology, hydrogen represents a great opportunity. It is carbon-free at the point of use and enables families to use their heating and hot water in the same way they do today, without major changes to their central heating systems or homes. What starts today with one house will become a community of houses next year and then we could see hydrogen boilers in millions of homes by the next decade.”
The H100 project aims to convert a community in Fife, Scotland from natural gas to hydrogen next year.
The semi-detached properties have been built by Northern Gas Networks in partnership with the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and gas distribution network company Cadent.
“Our work with the Hy4Heat project and associated demonstration sites in the UK show technical feasibility of this solution,” said Jeff House, head of external affairs at Baxi Heating. “We believe the Government should act upon advice from the Climate Change Committee and other sources advocating a mandate that all boiler sales from 2025 should be hydrogen-ready in order to help pre-populate a swathe of the housing stock ready for a future conversion. Technology, energy efficiency and business models are all bit parts in the wider picture.
Technology boosts heat output from heat pumps
Jaga UK, is making available its Dynamic Boost Hybrid (DBH) technology for the UK market.
DBH has been specially developed to boost heat outputs and provide light cooling with renewable energy systems such as heat pumps and solar energy. It replaces Jaga’s Dynamic Boost Effect (DBE) product.
The DBH technology utilises small electric thermal activators placed on top of the heat exchanger inside the Jaga Low-H2O radiator to force convection. This significantly boosts the radiator output by two to three times without increasing its size.
“When paired with a heat pump or other low flow temperature system, most emitters require a large surface area to sufficiently heat the room,” said Phil Mangnall, managing director, Jaga UK. “DBH allows you to substantially reduce the size of the radiator, freeing up valuable wall space and improving the aesthetics of the room. The system is almost inaudible and works with the majority of wall-mounted, free-standing, and trench solutions.”
Giving users more control over individual room temperatures, DBH further reduces the need for unnecessary heating and overheating, significantly cutting energy consumption and bills. Easily installed during new construction or added during building retrofits, units can be programmed to run to their own automated schedules or set to respond to direct input. The DBH activators are triggered automatically whenever hot water flows through the heat exchanger and once the room reaches the desired temperature, water stops flowing through the heat exchanger and the DBH activators turn off, keeping energy consumption low.
The key point of difference between DBH and Jaga’s former DBE technology is the ability to provide light cooling (noncondensing) with any heat pump that can supply cooling water. And if there is no cooling water, Breeze mode, where with the activators operate irrespective of water temperature, offers light air movement, ideal for a UK climate.
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