Eliminating carbon emissions from UK homes is more cost effective than making deeper cuts in other sectors, according to analysis by the ETI

• ETI report on Decarbonising Heat for UK Homes identifies two principal pathways for decarbonising space and water heating


• A system level approach is needed to package known, but under developed, technologies into integrated solutions


• Consumers want better control of the time, effort and money they spend making a comfortable, healthy home


• By 2050 there will need to be 26 million low carbon installations in homes – equivalent to 20,000 a week from 2025

Eliminating carbon emissions from UK homes is more cost effective than making deeper cuts in other sectors, but the next decade will be critical in preparing for the transition and rapid implementation of measures that will be needed by 2025, according to a new report by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

The report “Decarbonising Heat for UK Homes” written by Jeff Douglas, Strategy Manager in the ETI’s Smart Systems and Heat team, identifies two main potential pathways towards cutting carbon emissions from the 26 million homes needing low carbon installations by 2050 – local area schemes delivering low carbon heat through heat networks, along with individual home systems using electricity for heating.

To deliver upon this, a system level framework to package known, but under developed, technologies into integrated solutions is required. This then needs translating into local energy strategies, because solutions will be different for different locations.

Key headlines from the report include:

•    The near total elimination of carbon emissions from existing homes is required by 2050
•    There are two key solutions for most low carbon home heating – local area schemes delivering low carbon heat through heat networks, along with individual home systems using electricity for heating, each with different challenges
•    Compelling consumer propositions and business models are needed. Social benefits will also be important and affordability needs to be a key element of transition planning
•    A system level framework is required to package known but underdeveloped technologies into integrated solutions
•    System designs and local spatial plans are needed for the efficient development of energy assets and to support end-user engagement
•    Integrating the delivery of an energy system transition strategy into local planning processes, with local ownership, will be key to the delivery of near zero emissions
•    Low carbon heating systems will introduce the need for new heat production and network assets, along with significant electricity network reinforcement, whilst the use of local gas distribution networks will be reduced
•    The next decade will be critical in preparing for the transition and building confidence. A policy framework is required that supports the combination of individual and collective decisions and investments. Rapid implementation is then required from 2025

Jeff Douglas, the ETI’s Strategy Manager in the ETI’s Smart System and Heat team, said:

“Around 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from domestic heating and eliminating CO2 from buildings is more cost effective than deeper cuts in other sectors such as transport. This effectively means finding long term alternatives to natural gas heating systems.

“We have identified two pathways towards decarbonising domestic space and water heating. In more densely populated areas the solutions are likely to involve shared heat networks, while the focus in areas with lower density housing will be on individual properties using electrically powered heat pumps or direct resistance heating.

“In both scenarios there is a balance to be struck between the investment in demand reduction or efficiency measures and the cost of low carbon heat generation.”

The ETI believes the success of introducing such measures in the UK on the scale required will depend on proper strategic energy planning that takes account of the characteristics and infrastructure of individual areas and integrates the strategy into local planning processes.

Any transition will involve whole areas of housing and there will need to be compelling business models and attractive propositions for consumers.

The long term success will depend on understanding the behaviour of consumers and the ETI has conducted research into what people want from their heating system and what could make them change to a different one in the future

“2050 may seem a long way off but there will be a need to install low carbon heating systems in 20,000 homes a week over a 25 year period from 2025 to meet 2050 targets – that’s the equivalent of 10 Milton Keynes’ each year,” Jeff Douglas added.

“Our research indicates that consumers are generally happy with their existing heating arrangements and not presently engaged enough to change. But it also showed they want better control of their time, effort and money, and cost is not necessarily the most important element of consumer satisfaction. “

Last month the ETI published an Insight report “Targets, Technologies, Infrastructure and Investments – Preparing the UK for the Energy Transition” which concluded that the UK can implement an affordable transition to a low carbon energy system over the next 35 years by developing, commercialising and integrating technologies and solutions that are already known, but underdeveloped.

It also warned that decisions taken in the next decade are critical in preparing for the transition and crucial decisions must be made about the design of the UK future energy system by 2025 to avoid wasting investment and ensure the 2050 targets remain achievable.

Information on the Decarbonising Heat analysis including the report, video and an infographic can be found here.

The Transitions Insight Report can be found here.