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Richard Lowes Profile picture
@heatpolicyrich
Sep 24, 2020 • 10 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X
I think I've now managed to digest all the Times pieces today (I was featured in one of them) and thought I should set out my stall in a short thread. So, last week The Times featured an 'opinion piece' suggesting No 10 were very interested in hydrogen:
I was interviewed following the submission of a letter to the editor, not from me, but from another academic. csrf.ac.uk/2020/09/letter…. A shortened version of this letter featured today.
The Times also ran a story on the letter and which included a quote from me: thetimes.co.uk/article/fossil…
The Times also ran a 'leading article' (viewpoint) on the issue which I agree with @jbuckland13 on is actually quite balanced
I'm not going to go into the details of hydrogen/electrification but while we might need lots of both (yes I agree @ChiefExecCCC), it is hugely important where and how they are used
I've seen plenty of occasions where 'balance' and being 'technology agnostic' just means nothing happens. We simply don't have time for nothing to happen.
The risk is, as we saw with the first Times article that hydrogen becomes seen as the only game in town, when actually for heat, both energy efficiency, electrification, heat networks (and maybe hydrogen) will have a role and energy efficiency is actually vital for everything.
So overall I'm pleased that this issue has received some coverage and from a policy perspective opening up UK policy making in general and more coverage of lobbying would have huge value. But, on a practical level we're still way-off-track for net-zero heat by 2050.
Hence my repeated called for rapid deployment of heat pumps, heat networks and energy efficiency. We also need a rapid in-situ, decent scale, hydrogen for heat conversion trial to flush out the remaining uncertainties, and to objectively investigate costs and issues.
I outlined 12 steps to net-zero heating last year and think these are still useful: blogs.exeter.ac.uk/energy/2019/08…

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More from @heatpolicyrich

Richard Lowes Profile picture
Jan 22
ICYMI, Worcester Bosch, UK's largest manufacture of gas and oil boilers last week announced a £3000 support package for heat pumps subject to the introduction of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.

But has this company really changed course so dramatically? I think not (thread). Image
This company, along with the other boiler manufacturers has been against this policy from the outset. Their trade body has, and continues to call it a 'soviet style' policy.
I pointed out previously that the manufactures are playing politics with their prices, as a last ditch attempt to try and stop the scheme regulations being introduced. The manus have also bee referred to the Competition and Markets Authority on this.
Read 6 tweets
Richard Lowes Profile picture
Nov 20, 2023
🚨New briefing🚨

'Blowing hot and cold - Reflecting the potential value of air-to-air heat pumps in UK energy policy.'

It considers the potential role of air-to-air heat pumps in decarbonising homes in Great Britain and how policy might support them 🧵

raponline.org/knowledge-cent…
Image
This is NOT straightforward. Air to water heat pumps are much simpler from a policy perspective. Air-to-air systems are extremely heterogeneous, going from a single room unit you can buy online and plug in, to a whole house heating, cooling and hot water solution.
In the UK, where the majority of homes have wet central heating, air-to-air may only have limited value. But, we know that in markets where heat pumps have grown rapidly, air-to-air systems have played a very important role.
Read 14 tweets
Richard Lowes Profile picture
Aug 27, 2023
Heating and eating. The similarities between the two sectors and the issues at play are insane. And I'm wondering if thinking about them together can help stimulate some action🧵
Inefficient buildings losing energy = third of the food produced ending up as waste.
Half of gas imported. Half of food imported.
Read 9 tweets
Richard Lowes Profile picture
Aug 2, 2023
NEW BRIEFING JUST OUT

Decompression: Policy and regulatory options to manage the gas grid in a decarbonising UK

TLDR: As we decarbonise heating, the gas networks represent a significant liability for UK plc, and the sooner we act the better. 🧵
https://t.co/B18RRPWelXraponline.org/knowledge-cent…
Image
For a short written version you can check out this blog I wrote for @GreenAllianceUK but the briefing is rich with detail
The problem. The @theCCCuk balanced pathway suggests just 11% of homes would have any gas connection in 2050, an 87% reduction in the scale of the gas grid. Could be less owing to limits to blue hydrogen. Image
Read 14 tweets
Richard Lowes Profile picture
Jun 28, 2023
Heat pumps are rightly a focus of today's progress report from @theCCCuk. The tone of the buildings chapter (5) of the report is also rightly critical as commitments and plans have not come to fruition despite the development of a heat and buildings strategy 🧵
For buildings '77% of the required emissions reduction by the Sixth Carbon Budget [2033 to 2037] period [are] judged to be either at significant risk or with insufficient plans'

Of course any further delays may the risks even higher.
There is now a huge recommendations list for buildings. All of which is clearly sensible, if you are serious about the transition to clean heating.





Read 16 tweets
Richard Lowes Profile picture
May 12, 2023
The UK government is currently consulting on the proposed 'Clean Heat Market Mechanism' (closes 8th June).

It has the potential to be a very important industrial and energy policy.

But what exactly is it? 🧵 Image
In simple terms, it's a scheme which requires manufactures of fossil fuel heating systems AKA boiler manufacturers, to sell a certain amount of heat pumps. A form of a mechanism we @RegAssistProj call 'Clean Heat Standards' raponline.org/knowledge-cent…
If you have been working on energy efficiency policy, it's much like a white certificate scheme: iea.org/policies/1854-…
Read 22 tweets

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