Issue link: https://read.utilityweek.co.uk/i/665572
NETWORK / 13 / APRIL 2016 Industry and policy leaders discuss the future of heat in the UK Round table debate FutuRe oF heat ena A market taking shape T he needs of our future energy system seem to get ever more complex and there is increasing awareness of the need to come up with better, integrated solutions. At the core of any integrated solution must be a better approach – or approaches – to the way we deliver heat to buildings. This is a primary end use for energy in the UK, but it is poorly understood, by industry, central government and the increasingly active group of local government bodies and housing developers that, for regulatory, social and economic reasons are becoming more interested in providing local heat solutions. In the recent past, policymakers and technology vendors with solutions to push have proposed a future for heat founded on widespread electrification – and wrote our existing gas infrastructure out of existence. This vision is no longer widely followed because, it has been recognised, the seasonality of heat demand in the UK would require insupportable levels of redundancy in the electricity system. But if electrification is not the answer, then how do we define the future of heat? This question was addressed by a group of industry and policy leaders at a recent round table debate KEY POINTS No silver bullet A range of approaches are needed Peaks and troughs Seasonality of demand is a major challenge Locality matters Local decision making is pivotal Knowledge needed More independent evidence about the cost and practicality of different heat/energy solutions is needed Don't throw the gas network away A cost- effective approach should include optimisation and adaptation of existing gas infrastructure