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All Electric ? Sustainability & Water Heating Pt.3

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In this three-part series, Adveco has so far addressed the role of air source heat pumps and solar thermal as a source of low carbon preheat, in this final part, we consider the future of gas and the adaptation to all electric applications for implementing more sustainable hot water in commercial buildings.  

Read Part 1 Sustainability & Hot Water – Which Path Is Right For Commercial Properties? 

Read part 2 sustainability & Hot Water – Using The Sun

Despite the pressure to address carbon emissions in building stock in the UK, the fact is we are still waiting for clear advice at a government policy level. The final decision on energy solutions remains unresolved. So do you opt to go all electric with equipment now on the basis that the grid will become zero carbon or hold out for the option of carbon-free gas such as Hydrogen, which in terms of infrastructure change and refurbishment would be potentially quicker, cheaper and less disruptive.

As indicated, if your building has a gas connection and has high hot water demands it remains the most cost-effective option. Additionally, new gas-fired appliances operate with ever-reduced emissions, and most are ready to accept the initial proposed 20% hydrogen blends in the gas grid as early as 2024 without requiring any alteration. ‘Hydrogen Ready’ units are, with a replacement of the burner and pre-mixer, even capable of burning 100% hydrogen, but that scenario is some time away. Should hydrogen be accepted by the government as a function of net zero we would not expect 100% feeds to be in place nationally until 2040 with the grid changeover beginning in the early to mid-2030s. Retaining an existing gas connection, therefore, provides a degree of futureproofing should green gas technology be embraced.

What is clear though is that the latest building regulations (Part L, 2021) have radically revised the carbon intensity of electricity from 519g CO/kWh ten years ago to just 136 today. Gas in the same period has fallen from 240 to 233. Whilst the regulations do not yet exclude gas, they do advantage the adoption of all electric systems. We have demonstrated that renewables have a critical role in reducing the carbon emissions of a system, as well as offsetting the costs of heating water with direct electricity.

Gas-based hot water applications are, by a factor of 3.8, currently cheaper to operate than direct grid-electric systems. Using heat pumps can offset 25-35% of those energy costs, but this still leaves a considerable excess operating charge because of the need to provide top-up energy for safe operating temperatures. Historically, additional system top-up was provided by electric immersions, which for backup purposes and occasional peaks in demand whilst more expensive was acceptable. The shift to fully electric systems has put a greater onus on the technology which was never designed to provide primary heat. The costs are excessive and as we indicated, should they be deployed hard water, can rapidly develop scale leading to permanent damage in a remarkably short time. For this reason, we recommend the replacement of immersion technology with smaller electric boilers that are both more efficient, and, because they operate in a closed loop will avoid the issues of systems scaling up.

Perhaps the most detrimental issue we see today as a result of replacing gas with electricity is the propensity to oversize the new all electric system, replacing gas appliances with electric alternatives with like-for-like capabilities. Hot water systems have been inherently oversized in the past through a lack of understanding of application design or concerns over providing suitable backup to ensure system continuity. The result of oversizing is however always the same, unnecessary capital costs for system supply and installation, but when replacing gas with electricity, oversizing leads to greater electrical demand and should that exceed a building’s available amperage of electrical supply, project installation costs will inevitably soar, or even stall the project.

This can best be avoided by understanding your building’s actual hot water demands and designing the replacement to meet those specific needs. There is an art to designing hot water systems, but real, actionable data is priceless. When considering options for introducing sustainability the best advice we can give is to understand your needs first. Live metering is an easy, non-intrusive way of securing the valuable operational data you need to make informed decisions that deliver on expectations to lower carbon emissions without incurring unforeseen costs.

 

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Using The Sun – Sustainability & Water Heating part 2

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In this three-part series Adveco considers the choices available to commercial organisations that wish to advance decarbonisation strategies in their buildings through the implementation of more sustainable hot water. In part 1 we considered the role of air source heat pumps as a source of low carbon preheat, now we turn our attention to using the sun with solar thermal systems…

Read Part 1 Sustainability & Hot Water – Which Path Is Right For Commercial Properties? 

Using the sun to generate free heat from solar energy is a well-recognised and proven route for introducing renewables into a building project. As a high-temperature renewable source of hot water, solar thermal lends itself to working in conjunction with not only conventional gas heating but also other renewable technologies including air source heat pumps which can be used to provide pre-heat to solar thermal. This enables a variety of hybrid applications to be considered to meet the varied demands of commercial buildings.

Solar thermal systems are ideal for businesses that use and rely on large amounts of hot water, but it is important to understand that a solar thermal system will not fully replace your existing water heating system and will not provide space heating.

All areas of the UK are suitable for using the sun through solar energy technology; however, solar insolation, the energy generated from sunlight within collectors, will decrease as the sun’s inclination falls in the winter months and this is affected by how northerly located a building is in the UK as well as cloud cover. When it comes to using the Sun, solar thermal systems are obviously most productive in the summer months, when there is most sunlight, resulting in the additional need for either non-renewable energy sources or heat pumps which will still generate usable year round, even if ambient outside temperatures drop to -20°C during the winter months.

Shading from neighbouring buildings or tall trees, for example, can also greatly reduce a solar system’s output in which case a commercial air source heat pump would be a preferred alternative to produce low-carbon heat energy.

The actual percentage of your water heating demand covered by solar thermal will depend on your site and energy consumption habits (though this figure is typically around 30% for commercial sites). A south-facing and unobstructed roof with an inclination of 30° from the horizontal is optimal, though by no means essential as solar collectors can be installed in a variety of ways: built on the roof; built in roof; mounted on walls or on a frame construction to achieve inclination on flat roofs.

Sized and installed correctly, a single solar thermal collector can contribute up to 1400kWh per annum, providing electricity savings of £300 and more importantly reducing emissions of CO² by 322kg.

It is important to recognise that solar thermal differs from solar photovoltaic or Solar PV as it is known. Solar PV uses solar cells in a panel to convert the solar energy into electricity that can be stored, used as required, and even be sold back to the grid. Solar thermal works by a process of fluid heating in the collector panels that is then transferred via indirect heating in the cylinder into the hot water system.  This requires basic plumbing for its installation and a minimum 3m drop to ensure flow. This does mean it is really only suited to installation on a building, rather than in the grounds, although that helps reduce the threat of vandalism compared to frames installed on ground level.

Giving consideration only to the hot water system, solar thermal is still more advantageous compared to equivalent-sized solar PV systems. For example, a 4kW solar PV system and the equivalent solar thermal system will cost almost the same to purchase and install, with minimal operational costs, but solar thermal will exhibit a much smaller physical footprint. A typical 4 kW PV system would require 16 collectors at 25m², whereas this would be matched by just three solar thermal collectors for a total footprint of 6.6m². This makes solar thermal a better choice for buildings with reduced roof space, especially if sustainable projects are intending to introduce a mix of solar thermal, heat pump and solar PV. The silent operation of solar is also a consideration factor.

To ensure system longevity and return on investment, fluid within the solar collectors must be correctly managed. If left in the panel it can overheat, stagnate and leave collectors irreparable. This can be avoided by incorporating Drain Back into solar system designs. This gravity flow approach reduces pump capacity requirements and energy use of the pump station to a minimum and will automatically drain fluid if power is cut without the need for working components. This makes solar thermal systems with drain back low maintenance with long operational lifespans. Fluid refresh is, on average, required every eight years but may last much longer.

Certain commercial system designs can demand a minimum of 45°C of preheat which, due to annual variation in production, could preclude the use of solar thermal as a lone preheat source. This does match the minimum working flow temperature for preheat that would be designed into a system utilising the current generation of air source heat pump.

Under such conditions, a typical sustainable application would see a cylinder sized to meet the storage requirements of the building’s hot water demands with the heat coming from a combination of an air source heat pump and solar thermal collectors working in conjunction to guarantee the preheat temperature. The heat pump, operating at optimal efficiency at lower temperatures will preheat the 5°C cold feed to 45°C at which point the solar thermal is employed to further raise temperature to 50 or 60°C depending on the time of year. Working together the renewables can offset the majority of the electrical costs otherwise required to heat the water, even during periods of peak demand.

Using the sun to provide energy to preheat a hot water application or top-up preheat in a hybrid hot water application is truly advantageous, but is not a singular response for the total hot water demand in commercial organisations.  In the third and final part of this blog series we will we consider the future of gas and the adaptation to all-electric applications…

 

 

solar thermal installation training

Adveco Offers Commercial Solar Thermal CPD

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  • Gain valuable insight with a free sustainable solar thermal CPD for DHW demands
  • CIBSE Approved CPD course available in person or online
  • Onsite installation training from Adveco solar thermal engineers

Commercial hot water specialist Adveco is pleased to support customers’ continuing professional development (CPD) with a new CIBSE-accredited seminar on solar thermal water heating for commercial building projects. For installers wishing to offer solar thermal services, Adveco now also provides installation training via both this solar thermal CPD and onsite instruction from its specialist engineers.

Vince Ng, Business Development Manager, Adveco, said: “With more than 500 live installations throughout the UK, Adveco has unprecedented expertise in the design and provision of commercial solar thermal. A tried and trusted renewable technology, solar thermal is seeing a resurgence in interest as organisations are re-evaluating its benefits as they search for affordable and reliable methods for delivering decarbonisation strategies that meet net zero goals.”

Solar thermal is specifically used to heat domestic hot water (DHW) providing thermal energy to a load, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the existing equipment. This reduces the carbon emissions and the running costs of the system. Not to be confused with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems which generate electricity from panels, solar thermal collectors absorb solar energy and transport it via a solar fluid to an indirect hot water cylinder where the energy is transferred. For water heating applications, solar thermal is up to eight times more effective than PV, so highly advantageous when roof space is limited.

Adveco’s Solar Thermal in The UK CPD session explains in depth the benefits, including offsetting costs for both low-carbon electric and gas-based DHW systems. It gives full consideration to the design of robust solar thermal systems, exploring how it can be used to contribute to a building’s hot water system, and explaining the importance of correct sizing and avoiding the costly dangers of overheating through the application of drain back.

This solar thermal CPD will also cover the decision process for the application of solar thermal, solar PV or air source heat pumps (ASHP). This includes clear advice on methods for combining solar thermal with ASHP in hybrid applications.

“Installation of solar thermal is a relatively straightforward process for those with professional plumbing skills,” adds Vince. “The technology provides a prime opportunity to expand services to encompass sustainability that once installed offers low-to-no-cost hot water that can meet as much as 30% of annual hot water demands for a rapid return on investment when used to offset expensive electricity costs. Installers wishing to upskill to solar thermal are encouraged to book a CPD session and discuss options for onsite installation training with our solar thermal engineers.”

To book a CPD session with Adveco visit Adveco’s training site

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Sustainability & Water Heating

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In this three-part series on sustainability & water heating, Adveco considers the choices available to commercial organisations that wish to advance decarbonisation strategies in their buildings through the implementation of more sustainable hot water.  

In this first part we consider some of the basic constraints of designing water heating applications, the technology available and the role of air source heat pumps…

Which Path Is Right For Commercial Properties?

Estimates vary, but it is generally accepted that buildings are responsible for as much as 50% of the nation’s carbon emissions, with much of the existing building stock still dependent on gas, which, while increasingly efficient to use is a ‘dirty’ fossil fuel. Daily hot water usage can potentially account for as much as 30% of a commercial building’s daily energy demands so is a notable component of an organisation’s emissions. So sustainability & water heating go hand in hand, and the latter should be one of the first considerations within a decarbonisation strategy.

The relatively lower cost of gas compared to grid electricity, and the necessary high working flow temperatures it delivers have therefore made it historically the energy of choice. This becomes problematic if sustainable operations are now the goal. As a matter of course, new builds, unless exhibiting large demands for gas, will struggle to receive permission (under Part L of the building regulations) for a new gas connection and as a result, are going ‘all electric’ for heating and hot water. With modern construction fabric and insulation, this approach can pay dividends. For legacy properties requiring refurbishment, the choices become more problematic, especially for space heating where modern low-temperature systems need replacement pipework and heat emitters or will fail to deliver. Though this is not an issue for replacement hot water, the complexity of both new build and refurbishment can still suffer costly pitfalls in the drive to sustainability. With electricity on average currently costing as much as 3.8 times that of gas, serious consideration needs to be given to a selection of technologies available to ensure that any changes to a hot water system balance the carbon reduction with the capital and operational costs.

The Options For Sustainable Water Heating

There are several options when it comes to implementing a hot water system and as we have intimated some are driven by finance others by the desire to be environmentally aware. Other factors though can include everything from geology to available space. A building’s location will instantly direct certain decisions as the hardness or softness of the water will impact options. For instance, stainless steel cylinders will be preferential in soft water areas as they are resistant to the corrosive nature of the water, whilst lower-cost glass-lined vessels are preferable in harder water areas. However, high-intensity heating, such as delivered by electric immersion can be extremely detrimental in hard water regions, accelerating limescale generation to the point that it can irreparably damage a system in a matter of months if not correctly maintained.

That does not preclude electricity as a choice, but it does affect how applications should be designed. The real leading question is do you choose gas or electricity? If gas, do you opt for direct or indirect heating systems or if electricity do you choose immersion or electric boiler as your source of thermal energy? Whichever route you decide upon, your system will additionally require a low-carbon heat source which will preheat the water reducing the energy consumption of the water heater, and in turn, reduce carbon emissions and the running costs of the water heater.

There are several choices for securing low carbon heat, including biomass; combined heat and power (CHP); ground or water source heat pumps; air source heat pumps (ASHP), solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal.  Through a mix of cost and simplicity, the best technologies to use for domestic hot water (DHW) systems are either ASHP or solar thermal.

Heat pumps are a technology that operates most efficiently at lower temperatures, making it highly applicable to domestic applications, but commercial DHW systems require 60°C working flow for safe operation and anti-legionella processes. The heat pump can be pushed to deliver a higher percentage contribution, generating temperatures of 45-50°C for preheat, but this at the cost of performance efficiency, requires electrical energy, and that has operating cost implications. Compared to an equivalent-sized direct-electric (ie, from the grid) system, one with an ASHP can achieve carbon reductions of 42-47%, whilst saving 25-35% of the energy costs. The system will still be required to top up heat to the necessary 60°C, using either immersion or an electric boiler. This, combined with the heat pump’s reduced operational efficiency means it will still be much more expensive to run than an equivalent-sized gas-fired system based on a modern and efficient (109% net) water heater.

The recommendation, in this case, is to keep electrical demand down by increasing the size of the hot water storage which is then heated more slowly. This is very different to the high energy input, low storage seen with gas-fired systems. A 30kW energy source can heat 750 litres/hour by 34°C, so when the system draws hot water at a faster rate than it can be heated to 44°C for hot showers you start to get complaints that the water is ‘cold’. The larger volume cylinder helps to overcome this undersizing allowing for a two-hour reheat cycle that maintains enough water at 60°C to meet daily demand, whilst slowly heating reserves through the night when demand is minimal to meet the morning peak.

Despite gaining improved sustainability & water heating modernisation the carbon savings and costs no longer align.

Even with an ASHP operating at optimum efficiency (for 35% recorded reduction in energy) costs would be close to three times that of gas alone, so it is inherently important to consider the nominal value of the carbon reduction when planning a refurbishment from gas to electricity.

However, we can still take advantage of solar thermal which can be employed to offset energy use in gas-fired systems as well as offsetting costs in electric/ASHP applications.

We will discuss this further in part 2

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Replacing School Hot Water Systems, Do Your Homework

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The most consistent issue we see in when replacing school hot water systems is oversizing, whether through a lack of understanding of application design or concerns over providing suitable backup to ensure system continuity. The result of oversizing is however always the same, unnecessary capital costs for system supply and installation.

As schools plan to adopt greener building operations, replacing old gas-fired systems with like-for-like electric is another guaranteed way to gain an oversized system, but can also lead to undersizing if storage is not large enough to account for low, slow heating associated with heat pump based electric systems. Getting that balance right is critical as per kW price of electricity remains much higher than that of gas. Plus, if not optimised, the system will generate excess capital costs in terms of size and number of water heating appliances and complexity of installation. That in turn can also become more time-consuming and disruptive, a cause for concern if refurbishment work is scheduled into the narrow window afforded by the school holidays. More importantly, if the new electric system is oversized the required amperage could exceed a building’s available electrical supply. Bringing new supply in means excavating, possibly as far as the substation, which will see costs soar, or even stall the project.

This can best be avoided by collecting live onsite data. A valuable, non-invasive, and low-cost exercise, it should be undertaken to assess actual usage, including time and duration of peak demands which is critical for correct sizing. When assessing a school’s domestic hot water (DHW) usage, it is important to also establish basic information on energy sources, be they gas or electric, planned use of renewables such as heat pumps or solar thermal and the level of system redundancy and backup. This helps steer the design of the replacement system.

This approach has already been applied to several public sector sites in the UK where there is a strong impetus from the government for properties to be rapidly decarbonised in line with net zero strategies. Data collected by Adveco has enabled our application design team to provide recommended alternatives that avoid common issues that arise from replacing school hot water systems.

Replacing school hot water systems that are gas-fired with an electric system still has several cost implications. Correct sizing with metered data can reduce the costs of purchasing and installing new hardware, potentially saving tens of thousands of pounds depending on the scale and complexity of the DHW application. Excavation works to bring in increased electric supply though can quickly raise project costs to anything as high as £500,000 if in a city location! So optimising designs to avoid this is critical.

Operational costs do however climb and will continue to do so while grid electric prices remain much higher than those of gas grid supplies. The application of renewables including heat pumps and solar thermal can reduce, but not completely offset those direct electric costs.

The advantage is clearly defined in the reduction of carbon emissions, and, as work continues to decarbonise the electricity grid, the emission reduction figures supplied in the new system design should improve considerably, adding further environmental value to the system over the course of its operational lifespan. Decarbonisation of hot water still comes with implicit operational costs, but when replacing a school hot water system metering helps to clarify costs and puts a realistic number on the ledger that can be factored into a school’s decarbonisation strategy.

Read about live metering for schools from Adveco 

 

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Noise Pollution – What You Need To Hear

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Noise pollution is a serious problem that can cause a variety of health problems and also be damaging to the wider environment. As such, its prevention will be a consideration for any design & build project in the commercial sector.

Noise management is a complex issue and at times requires complex solutions. Unlike air quality, there are currently no European or national noise limits which have to be met, although there can be specific local limits for specific developments. Furthermore, sound only becomes noise when it exists in the wrong place or at the wrong time such that it causes or contributes to some harmful or otherwise unwanted effect.

Unlike many other pollutants, noise pollution depends not just on the physical aspects of the sound itself, but also on the human reaction to it. Consequently, there is a range of legislation that addresses everything from clearly identifying sound levels of products to those regulating construction quality and setting acceptable noise sound levels within the working environment.

There are many causes of noise pollution. Traffic & construction noise is the most recognised sources of loud noise, but commercial machinery & equipment also contribute and are more likely to be a consistent generator of sound that over time becomes identified as a noise pollutant.

Noise pollution can have a number of negative effects on human health. It can cause hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise over a long period of time, but stress, anxiety and irritability, often associated with sleep disturbances is more common as will be a typical issue raised against commercial operations, especially if located close to residential land use. The disruption of local ecosystems and the impact on wildlife due to loud noise can also become an issue for a business.

The provision of hot water to commercial buildings is very often a business-critical function of daily operations and this can well be 365 days a year, so its important to give consideration to sound levels generated by the domestic hot water (DHW) plant. Fortunately, a typical gas-fired commercial water heater emits a conversational 55-65 decibels. This is further reduced with electric units, such as Adveco’s ARDENT electric boilers that produce just 35-58 decibels – quieter than an average conversation. To put that into perspective a domestic fridge will average at about 45 decibels, typical road traffic, heard from inside a car will rate at around 85 decibels.

Located within the plant room, this level of noise should prove to be of little concern. Many plant rooms will be located in basements or on separate floors, where noise is naturally muffled, or can be more acoustically controlled. The growing popularity of offsite constructed plant rooms, does mean these appliances are increasingly being located to maximise space in car parks, unused alleys and especially rooftops. This reduces the potential for noise pollution for the building’s users but could become an issue with neighbours as the GRP structures offer less capability to reduce sound. For boilers and water heaters, the noise as indicated is minimal and should not be an issue, but external baffles can be erected to deflect noise from any neighbouring structures.

Sound carries further when unimpeded, so the external location of commercial equipment is where there are likely to be issues, if any. With the drive to attain greater sustainability of systems, reducing carbon and offsetting more expensive electric energy costs, new DHW systems will take advantage of technology such as air source heat pumps (ASHP) or solar thermal to provide system pre-heat. Unlike gas and electric water heaters, this green technology must be located outside to operate. There is a major push for the UK to adopt ASHPs as a way to generate low-carbon heating, but concerns over noise remain one of the key stumbling blocks to their wider adoption, especially when applied to residential applications, whether domestic or across the leisure and hotel sectors.

Heat pumps will generate noise, due to the pump and fan rotation, and this can be a particular concern during night-time operation. At Adveco, we strive to research and manage our products to meet and exceed the criteria set by our customers, and much attention has been paid to the acoustics of our ASHP ranges. For example, at 52 dB(A), the Adveco FPi32 heat pumps are extremely quiet during normal daily operation, but also feature ‘quiet time operation’ to reduce noise pollution at night. This helps to address concerns, reducing outdoor noise pollution and improving the comfort of the working environment.

Decibel scale

 

Better still is Adveco’s near-silent solar thermal with drain back. An excellent way to achieve as much as 30% of the annual energy demands to run commercial DHW applications, solar thermal collectors required placement on the rooftop or external walls of a business. Because solar thermal drain back uses gravity flow for a large proportion of its operation, the system’s only mechanical aid is a small, near-silent pump. This makes solar thermal an excellent option for introducing cost-effective, sustainable water heating to a building without any concerns of generating noise pollution or having a project stall due to enforcement of noise regulations for external systems.

With the ever-increasing need for commercial companies to be more environmentally friendly, reduction of carbon and NOₓ emissions from the hot water application are going to top the agenda when it comes to new build or refurbishment, but addressing noise pollution should also be a consideration.

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Powering Up Britain – Too Little, Too Late?

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Powering Up Britain is a 1000-page document of plans published to explain how the government will enhance the UK’s energy security, ensure economic opportunities from the transition, and deliver on net zero commitments.

The document was drawn up after the High Court ruled the government’s existing plans were not sufficient to meet climate targets set during the tenure of former PM Boris Johnson. The ambitious plans to scale up affordable, clean, homegrown power and build thriving green industries in Britain are necessary considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine that highlighted the need to secure the country’s energy and further avoid the impact of energy cost rises.

Powering Up Britain has outlined a further commitment to Carbon Capture Usage and Storage to build on the £20 billion CCUS funding already announced, and a £160 million fund to support port infrastructure projects to kickstart the floating offshore wind industry. New projects were announced under the original £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. A new competition under the Great British Nuclear banner is set to select the best Small Modular Reactor technologies for development by Autumn.

Responding to the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to heat buildings – the government highlighted the new £30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator designed to leverage £270 million private investment to boost manufacturing and supply of heat pumps in the UK. The domestic Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers a £5,000 grant to anyone buying a heat pump, is also be extended to 2028.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We have seen over the past year what can happen when global energy supplies are disrupted. Access to cheap, abundant and reliable energy provide the foundation stone of a thriving economy with our homes and businesses relying on it to deliver our future prosperity.”

The rhetoric is telling, with focus placed on national security rather than simply addressing the urgent threat of climate change which, according to the most recent UN report is a rapidly increasing, rather than decreasing threat to global economies and habitats.

The Powering Up Britain plan anticipates somewhere in the region of £100 billion of private investment into the UK’s green economy, but many are already calling out that much of the plan is too little and too late, with much talk of businesses looking to invest in US green tech which is more thoroughly supported by the Biden administration. The fear is that companies which had intended to invest in UK sites will look to relocate to cheaper, better-supported sites elsewhere, particularly in the USA.

Other elements of the plan, including the core CO₂ storage strategy, have been questioned, with a number of scientists arguing the process will not achieve the carbon commitments to which the government is legally bound to deliver.

The extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme was expected, given the poor rates of adoption which led to a recent Lords’ inquiry describing the heat pump scheme as “seriously failing”. It hasn’t been helped by the argument that those who have taken up the offer already intended to replace heating systems are part of planned refurbishment, rather than instigating decisions to replace current working systems. This has been a recurring theme with boiler replacement schemes as the Mayor of London’s similar scheme a few years ago floundered and was cut short after minimal take up across both domestic and small businesses in the city. Replacing working, and cheaper-to-operate gas appliances is a hard sell when families and companies are facing wider economic challenges. The work, if done, is also unlikely to reduce bills, certainly in the short to medium term whilst electricity prices remain tied to gas. Currently, electricity is 3.8 times more expensive than gas, and even with at best 35% savings from installing a heat pump, the jump in energy bills has been a shock to many that have opted to make the transition.

The government has said it would make no announcements at this time but was looking at different measures to address gas-dependent electricity generation. It has proposed the idea to move the existing “green levies” on electricity prices over to gas prices so as not to penalise using electricity, which is greener.

But the fact that the government’s hand had been forced to legally publish a more detailed strategy to show how the UK would achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 has not helped drive confidence. Much of the new strategy has relied once again on repeating previously announced commitments leading it to be variously described as “weak”, “lacklustre” and “regressive.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was recently quoted saying the UK had “decarbonised faster than any other major economy, our carbon emissions have been reduced by over 40%”. This, whilst accurate is misleading. The 40% reduction was relatively easily attained, primarily through the closure of coal-fired power stations, by far one of the largest producers of CO₂ emissions. Addressing the remainder is far more complex and difficult, which is why the government’s carbon budgets are on target to fail. Hence the legal action to gain more clarity.

It’s a common trend in government policy that we have pointed out again and again, but policy seems blinkered on specific technologies and sectors, to the detriment of simple effective and proven resolutions. Many campaigners have voiced frustration over no key rise in funding for insulation. The most basic, and cost-effective way to reduce energy demands in the short term. Whilst there is a place for the application of heat pumps, notably new, properly insulated buildings, other advantageous technologies are notably absent, especially solar both photovoltaic and solar thermal. Despite the removal of incentivisation and support through the RHI, solar technology remains one of the most cost-effective and high return-on-investment methods for reducing carbon emissions and electrical costs for any building, but especially existing structures that otherwise struggle to find effective ways to reduce carbon emissions.

Despite further announcements, including plans to expand investment opportunities in offshore wind energy, there was no change to the restriction on planning for onshore wind. This highlights the key problem of attaining a net zero UK, if there isn’t going to be an effective financial incentive to change the way we live and work to become greener, then it needs to be mandated through law. Powering Up Britain at first sight fails to offer a comprehensive response, nor the ability to deliver what it does cover in a meaningful way.

Read the full Powering Up Britain strategy document here

newsletter April 23

Read The Adveco April 2023 Newsletter

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Read the Adveco April 2023 newsletter. A warm welcome as Spring is here and building projects are ramping up. This month we look at the value of employing metering on your existing hot water system to save considerable costs when planning to move from gas to more sustainable electric. We also highlight the findings from the UN’s latest, pivotal report on global climate change, consider the future of Hydrogen as the UK seeks to transition towards net zero, and report on some recent work supporting a customer reeling from flood damage.

Click here to read the Adveco April 2023 Newsletter