heating

The impact of increasing global gas and electricity prices has already plunged hundreds of thousands more UK families into fuel poverty.

Estimates suggest the current average fuel poverty gap of £233 per home* could more than double in the coming year.  As a result, fuel poverty has arguably never been higher on the agenda for registered providers.  

Unfortunately residents connected to communal heat networks will not be immune, as their monthly (and pre-payment) heat bills are typically tied directly to gas prices.

So, faced with an almost perfect storm; and against a backdrop of traditionally poorly performing communal heat networks – how can the performance of existing installations be improved to both urgently reduce tenant energy costs and prepare them for the transition to low carbon heat?

Synergi is an independent mechanical design consultancy that specialise in Mechanical Engineering, District and communal heating and Steam Engineering. Our knowledge and expertise covers varying technical solutions incorporating the latest renewable technologies.
 
Since its conception in September 2017 Synergi has drawn together it’s in depth knowledge from various mechanical services systems to quickly become a leading innovator in heating and cooling networks. Synergi has worked on a large number of networks and by utilising this knowledge it’s enabled Synergi to improve the energy efficiency of a large number of networks while also increasing their reliability.

Thanks to the Building Regulations and Part L changes, which come into force this summer, low temperature heating systems will now become the norm for newly built homes. While there is flexibility on which energy source can be used,
it is anticipated that heat pumps will become the most specified option.

Here, Ashley Cooper, Managing Director at WMS underfloor heating, provides an overview of the changes ahead and how underfloor heating and heat pumps can together achieve the ultimate low temperature system.

Low-carbon heating is today’s gold standard for heating systems, and the government recommends replacing fossil fuel gas and oil central heating systems with a heat pump instead of a gas, oil, LPG fired boiler. While heat pumps are ideal for modern housing built to today’s energy conservation, SAP and heat loss standards, they are harder to install in older council owned housing stock, the majority of which is either flats, apartments or maisonettes and built prior to 1999.

Over the next few years, the prevalence of low-carbon heating technologies will rise significantly, bringing big changes in how the UK’s buildings are heated. Hydrogen is one of the key energy sources forming part of this conversation.
The UK Hydrogen Strategy gives clear direction on the Government’s commitment to the role this low carbon fuel source can play in meeting its target of becoming net zero by 2050 and builds on ambitions previously outlined in the Government’s 10-Point Plan and Energy White Paper. However, it highlights the uncertainty remaining on the scale and demand we can expect to see in the future, with hydrogen expected to form between 20-35% of the UK's energy consumption by 2050 and no final decision on the role of hydrogen in buildings until 2026 after the hydrogen village trial in 2025.