Heat Batteries: Carbon Emissions

(asked on 17th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of heat batteries for the decarbonisation of off grid homes in the UK.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 29th November 2021

The Government is currently consulting on phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid in England from 2026. In this consultation, the Government proposes to adopt a ‘heat pump first’ approach to heat decarbonisation in off-grid properties based on extensive assessment of the cost effectiveness of heat pumps relative to other low-carbon heating technologies. The Government is also seeking views on the role of alternative low-carbon heating technologies, such as heat batteries.

Research published by the Department (www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-optimal-domestic-electrification-code) suggests that alternative electric heating technologies could have a role to play in decarbonising buildings, but can lead to higher lifetime costs relative to heat pumps. The Government acknowledges the wider benefits that heat batteries provide in terms of their ability to support a smart and flexible energy system, therefore the Government is exploring this potential further.

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