Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SGN0075 | |
| Title | Combined Fuel Cell - Heat Pump Research Study | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 50%; Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Other oil and gas) 25%; Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Oil and gas combustion) 25%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SGN |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 June 2015 | |
| End Date | 01 June 2016 | |
| Duration | 12 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £144,833 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Technical Consultancy | |
| Region | South East | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SGN (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_SGN0075 |
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| Objectives | The key objectives of this project are: 1. To determine the possible system configuration for a combined fuel cell - heat pump product, and to identify the preferred configuration(s). 2. To determine the proportion of GB households for which such a product would potentially be suitable. 3. To determine the potential environmental benefits (carbon reduction), consumer benefits (reduced heating costs) and assess the potential value to the electricity system. 4. To assess these benefits against benefits from alternative low carbon heating products. 5. To identify the key challenges in developing such a product and bringing it to market and to identify what actions are required to overcome these challenges. The success criteria for the project are to: 1. Produce comparative assessment of potential for a combined fuel cell - heat pump product (against other low carbon heating options) to potentially decarbonise heat, reduce consumer heating costs, and bring energy system benefits to GB. 2. Outline scope for further work that may help to bring such a product to market, including key partners to involve, barriers that need to be overcome and an indication of the investment required. 3. Learning to be disseminated to all key stakeholders and licensees through full project reporting via the Smarter Networks Portal and project reporting on request. If successful the project could support the future development and network integration of a new low carbon energy technology. | |
| Abstract | The UK currently faces the challenge of reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for customers while guaranteeing security of supply. Gas is used in the vast majority of GB homes and gas boilers are close to the theoretical limit of their efficiency, with only incremental improvements possible. Therefore there are limited options by which domestic consumers can keep using gas while furthering GB on its path to meeting affordable and secure future carbon reduction targets. Hybrid energy systems that combine a low carbon or renewable heating system with a traditional gas fired boiler have been available for some time; however, there is not currently a combined fuel cell - heat pump system on the market. There are potential financial and environmental savings to be made by increasing the efficiency of domestic heating appliances but this is also likely to have an impact on consumer demand trends. Developing a domestic hybrid energy system that is significantly more efficient and more widely accepted than what is currently available may have an impact on the individual consumers’ gas demands thus having an impact on network strategic investments across the GB with a potential for reduced carbon emissions as well as a range of benefits for the GB gas customer both environmentally and economically. With Deta-ee’s assistance we will undertake a research project to determine the potential configurations, benefits and impact of a hybrid, low carbon, domestic product combining a fuel cell and a heat pump for use in GB homes. This research will be broken down into six segments: Review of current technology and productsMarket researchReview of housing stockCarbon, cost and energy system modellingAnalysis of competing low carbon heating systems Opportunities, barriers and next steps By assessing and ranking the potential system configurations, and analysing the potential benefits of this technology combination, we can place the energy industry in a better position to understand the potential -and barriers - to a system that could facilitate the potential realization of more efficient, low carbon heating. Determining the benefits and drawbacks of renewable domestic energy systems that are currently available will allow us to assess the feasibility of taking a project forward whilst providing learning to ensure the successful implementation of a system that adds maximum value to the network.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 | 09/08/18 | |
