Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_NGN_079 | |
| Title | Low Carbon Energy Solutions | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies) 25%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 25%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 25%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment) 25%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 25%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 50%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance) 25%; |
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| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Northern Gas Networks |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 June 2014 | |
| End Date | 01 December 2016 | |
| Duration | 30 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £150,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Technical Consultancy | |
| Region | Yorkshire & Humberside | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGN_079 |
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| Objectives | To identify true cost and challenges of fuel poor communities transition to the low carbon economy. To identify actual behaviours residents undertake to maintain heat comfort levels and technologies available that could increase these levels at a lower cost. To identify the role of gas in assisting the transition to these low carbon solutions and inform NGN on the impact of the transition. Complete a statistically robust research project on the energy use, behaviour and attitudes to change. Develop a strategic view on technologies and systems that could prove suitable to buildings, people and owners on how these communities could make a transition to a low carbon economy with costs and challenges. Develop a view on most suitable options on site that could make that early transition to provide a real example on approaching these communities. Provide guide on existing funding sources and support available that would assist in developing a physical project. | |
| Abstract | The need to deliver a low carbon economy target of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (based on 1990 levels) by 2050, and to decarbonised electricity generation by 2030, while maintaining secure and robust energy supplies and addressing issues of fuel poverty and aging infrastructure poses significant challenge to the UK energy sector. The future role of the gas network to support large scale transition to the low carbon economy has a large number of uncertainties, especially sounding fuel poverty in a community / social housing context. Fuel poverty in the Teesside is a significant issue. Latest figures show there are 7,278 households in fuel poverty in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, which is 17. 7% of all households. Figures from other areas of Teesside are just as damaging. In Redcar, 7,469 households are in fuel poverty (19. 1% of all households) and in Stockton South 6,743 households in fuel poverty (15. 5% of all households). (source Tom Blenkinsop, MP Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland). Gas Networks strategy for alleviating fuel poverty has a minimum impact on these numbers and has difficulty reaching mixed housing stock in a particularly deprived area. Very little work has been undertaken to understand how residents within this significant fuel poverty area currently manage energy costs, impact on lifestyle and adoption of new systems to determine which technologies or systems would make a real impact on living conditions. The complexity of building fabric, current energy source and resident behaviour provides a real challenge to reduce energy costs to the neediest while at the same time increasing their comfort levels at the lowest possible carbon environment. Working jointly with Thirteen, one of the North East Largest social housing organisations, NGN will develop a partnership to investigate and research real acceptable options that deliver residents needs while delivering a lower carbon impact. The work will also study the role gas has to play in the current lifestyle, the transition from existing to future sources and its role longer term to determine its long term impact on the UK’s heat solutions. An initial feasibility study to be undertaken on what technical solutions could be adopted on a range of single storey, low story, multi-storey mixed occupancy buildings. This stage will determine the feasibility of technologies and suitability of the systems to reduce running costs, alleviate fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. To undertake a research study on the same geographical footprint with a large enough sample to be statistically robust, not just at local but have national implications. Research funding streams, heating design issues and future trends on social heating solutions.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 10/09/18 | |
