Trial reveals how batteries can heat homes
Millions of UK homes could switch to low-carbon electrified heating while easing pressure on the grid by using heat battery technology, a trial has shown.
The Neat Heat trial, led by UK Power Networks in partnership with OVO and tepeo, demonstrated that heat batteries, an all-electric low-carbon alternative to fossil fuel boilers, can provide grid flexibility by shifting peak energy demand for heating to off-peak times by up to 95%.
It means homes can be efficiently heated, even in winter, and also provide carbon savings of 15,600 kgCO2e compared to if these homes were using gas boilers instead.
The trial ran for 18 months and involved installing tepeo’s Zero Emission Boiler (ZEB), which uses heat battery technology, into customers’ homes in the Southeast and East of England.
By using the thermal storage capability of the ZEB, the trial revealed homes could ‘charge’ heating systems outside of the most expensive hours of the day, with heat being released on demand when needed.
The trial was built around OVO’s ‘type of use’ add-on, which gave customers access to a cheaper rate to charge ZEBs. Customers could also set their ZEBs to charge during the cheapest times during the day.
Head of Innovation at UK Power Networks, Luca Grella said:
“Being able to move electricity demand away from peak hours is huge for both our network and customers.”
“The more people move to electric heating systems, the more resilient our network will need to be. Shifting demand away from peak hours will reduce the upgrades needed to keep up with the future demand of green technologies, which would ultimately have been paid for by customers across the country. We hope this also opens the door to further low carbon solutions which we know they are keen to adopt.”
CEO of tepeo, Johan du Plessis said:
“Neat Heat’s success paves the way for the wider deployment of heat batteries, which is critical to the UK’s successful transition to Net Zero.”
“Heat batteries working in tandem with dynamic tariffs will enable millions of homes currently unable to switch to low-carbon solutions to join the green transition.”
Grainne Regan, Head of Heat at OVO said:
“The ability to decouple electricity consumption from heating is an essential part of decarbonising home heating. This trial represents a huge step forward in our joint mission to decarbonise the UK energy grid by 2035.”
“We’re committed to making it easier for our customers to access energy that is better for them, their wallets and the planet, and this trial is a great example of how we are delivering on that.”
Lord Callanan, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:
“It is vital the new Government takes advantage of a mix of low carbon technologies to help decarbonise our homes. Heat batteries will provide much-needed flexibility and choice for consumers, reducing demand on the grid at peak times, whilst also helping reduce bills and carbon emissions.”
Image courtesy of OVO, tepo and UK Power Networks