Decarbonising heat research receives over £4 million in funding

We've won major funding for three new research projects to decarbonise heat which will significantly reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers in Durham Energy Institute (DEI) will develop technology and processes to decarbonise heating and cooling across homes, businesses and industry. Seasonal solar energy storage and heat pump system Solar energy can provide heat without greenhouse gas emissions, but only one per cent of this is used in the UK as heating is in less demand when the sun is shining. A three-year project, led by DEI Fellow Dr Zhiwei Ma, will develop a new system to store thermal energy from solar panels so the energy can be used to heat homes and businesses in the winter. The system will produce carbon emissions that are approximately 92 per cent and 85 per cent lower than current gas boiler and electric heat pump technology. The £1.04 million project will develop an advanced hybrid thermochemical energy storage and vapour-compression refrigeration system which will enhance the efficiency, capability and flexibility of solar energy storage and heat pumping. A network for heating and cooling Led by DEI Fellow Dr Andrew Smallbone, this £1.16million international network will bring together researchers, technology developers, managers and policy makers to share progress, knowledge and fund new research projects for decarbonising heating and cooling.