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Distributed green hydrogen for building heating and cooling decarbonisation
This six month project was led by Dr Lu Xing of Northumbria University
This research project presented a proton exchange membrane water electrolyser and fuel cell system powered by renewable energy to meet building energy demands, achieve electricity decarbonisation and energy autonomy. The water recirculation for the system has been considered. Case study results for a residential building in Aberdeen, UK are presented and discussed, maximum 75 solar panels can be installed on the 150m2 roof area. Analysis results show that in one summer day (July 1st), at 7pm when the daily energy demand is at peak, 11 solar panels are required to meet the maximum daily building energy demand and to ensure 100% water recirculation. In one winter day (December 6th) at 1pm, even all 75 solar panels operate simultaneously, system can only meet 26% of the total building energy demand.
Other team members were: Dr H.H.Lei, Dr C.Mallon and Dr. J.Thomas, Northumbria University, Dr S.Roy, Dr S. Vijayalakshmi, Durham University and Dr C.Samende, Keele University.
The final report can be found here: Distributed green hydrogen report
The Impact of REMA on the electrification of heat
This eight month project was led by Dr Andrew Lyden of Edinburgh University.
This research project investigated the impact of locational pricing on the roll out of heat pumps in the UK. The research highlights that locational pricing can create market conditions which better reflect the true cost of generating and delivering electricity, however, it can also lead to higher heat pump operating costs in regions with projected high heat demand. Key findings reveal that locational pricing could result in significant geographical disparities in heat pump operating costs due to varying electricity prices across different zones. Further work is required to develop policy to alleviate high operating costs and to promote flexible operation of heat pumps.
Other team members were: Dr Renaldi Renaldi, Cranfield University, Dr Stephen Watson, Loughborough University; Professor Peter Connor, University of Exeter.
The final report can be found here: Impact of REMA report
Increasing urban overheating risk from cooling decarbonisation by heat pumps
This eight month project was led by Professor Zhiwen Luo from the University of Cardiff.
This study uses the urban land surface model ‘Surface Urban Energy and Water Balance Scheme’ (SUEWS) and building energy simulation tool ‘EnergyPlus’ to explore the impacts of air-source heat pump cooling on both outdoor and indoor overheating risks within an idealised London neighbourhood setting under future climate scenarios.
The research focused on a UK detached house archetype with and without air-source heat pump. This dwelling is assumed to be occupied by an elderly couple present throughout the day. The modelled neighbourhood comprises identical houses covering a plan area fraction of 0.5. For the meteorological context, we employed UKCP09’s 2050 typical meteorological year weather data for London under a medium emissions scenario.
Other team members were: Dr Xiaoxiong Xie, Professor Carlos Ugalde-Loo, Cardiff University, Dr Matt Bailey-Ross, Plymouth University, Dr Xinfang Wang, Birmingham University and Professor Sue Grimmond, University of Reading
The final report can be found here: Cooling decarbonisation report
Pump Priming
This eight month project was led by Dr Jacob Barnes from the University of Oxford. The Pump priming project examined how the UK market for residential heat pumps has developed in recent years, up until May 2023, and considers what is now required to accelerate heat pump deployment in the UK.
Other team members were: Dr Michael Taylor, Cardiff University and Dr Taru Silvonen , University of Bristol
The final report can be found here: Pump priming report
Heat4Aall
This six month project was led by Dr Lirong Liu from the University of Surrey using an economics informed optimisation model for future equitable decarbonised distributed heating systems, the team developed a practical model to understand how fuel poverty could be minimised in the UK whilst simultaneously delivering upon net-zero targets for home heating.
Other team members were: Dr Michael Short, Professor Matthew Leach and Dr Mona Chitnis
The final report can be found here: Heat4All Final report
This project has produced two journal publications.
There are 23 projects funded as part of the EPSRC Decarbonising Heat Programme. The first programme of 13 projects was funded in 2020 and the next is 2021. The total programme includes £30Million funding towards unlocking heat decarbonisation in the UK. The projects have all provided a brief introduction video and further links can be found within the project summary.
DELTA-PHI project, presented by Professor Phil Eames of Loughborough University. Further details about the project can be found here
GREEN – ICEs, presented by Professor Yongliang Li, Chair in Thermal Energy Engineering, University of Birmingham. Further information about the project can be found here:
H2-Heat project, presented by Professor Yunting Ge of London South Bank University. Further details about the project can be found here
HUMAN project, presented by Dr Vassilis Charitopoulos from University College London. Further information about the project can be found here
Integrated heating and cooling networks with heat-sharing enabled smart prosumers presented by Dr Meysam Qadrdan of Cardiff University. Further information on the project can be found here
INTEGRATE project presented by Dr Daniel Friedrich of University of Edinburgh. Further details about the project can be found here
LATENT project presented by Professor Patrick James, Professor of Energy and Buildings from the University of Southampton. Further information on the project can be found here
NEUPA project presented by Professor Robert Gross, Imperial College London. Further information on this project can be found here
Net Zero GeoRDIE project presented by Professor David Manning of Newcastle University. Further information on the project can be found here
Solar S & HP project presented by Dr Zhiwei Ma of Durham University. For further information on this project please follow this link
ThermoStore project presented by Dr Ziwei Chen from University of Nottingham. For further information on this project please follow this link
ICHP project presented by Professor Tony Roskilly of Durham University. Further information on the project can be found here
Project presented by Dr Xavier Moya from University of Cambridge. Further information about the project can be found here:
Flex-Cool-Store project presented by Dr Carlos Ugalde-Loo from Cardiff University. Further information about the project can be found here:
SaFEGround project presented by Dr David Taborda of Imperial College, London. Further information about this project can be found here:
Our networks are supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Energy Programme.
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