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Gas Boilers: What are heat pumps and how much do they cost? Heat pumps: What are the alternatives to gas boilers?
(5 months later)
No new gas boilers should be sold from 2025 in order to meet environmental goals for the middle of the century, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) think tank. With soaring gas prices, some people are looking into alternatives for staying warm in the home.
But why are they a problem - and what alternatives are available? It fits with proposals from the International Energy Agency that no new gas boilers should be sold from 2025, in order to meet environmental goals for the middle of the century.
What's wrong with my gas boiler?What's wrong with my gas boiler?
It may perch innocently on a wall in the corner, but your natural-gas boiler gives out emissions that contribute to overheating the planet. Right now, thanks to global gas markets and a lack of gas storage in the UK, your gas boiler is costing you a small fortune.
So when will the the trusty boiler be consigned to the scrap heap in the UK? And what will replace it? Gas heating also produces carbon dioxide emissions, which are over-heating the planet.
Step one of the process - obliging manufacturers to make boilers that can be easily switched to run on hydrogen in future - is likely in a few years' time. If your boiler is nearing the end of its life, you may be considering replacing it.
Step two - a ban on the sale of new gas-only boilers - is likely to happen in the 2030s, so if you're buying a boiler now, there's no need to panic. But what else would keep you warm without heating the planet?
If by the late 2040s you're still running a clapped-out natural-gas boiler, you may be obliged to rip it out - but that's a long way ahead. Heat pumps
Ban all gas boilers from 2025 to reach net-zero
What's good about hydrogen?
Surplus electricity from wind farms at night can be used to split hydrogen from water to produce a clean fuel.
But there's a problem. The government's climate advisers say we'll be able to produce enough hydrogen to heat only 11% of the UK's homes. And these are likely to be in north-east Scotland - near wind-turbine hubs.
So do we really want to add maybe £100 to the £2,000 typical cost of every new boiler in the country if only a minority of people will actually need it?
Ministers are wrestling with that question.
As an alternative to gas, water from Dawdon mine has been used to heat a garden village in County Durham
If hydrogen won't always work, what about heat pumps?
Climate advisers anticipate that most homes in future will be warmed by heat pumps.Climate advisers anticipate that most homes in future will be warmed by heat pumps.
These devices extract warmth from the air or the ground, or from water - a bit like a fridge operating in reverse.These devices extract warmth from the air or the ground, or from water - a bit like a fridge operating in reverse.
They are on the market already but they are costly - between £6,000 and £18,000, depending on the sort you install and the size of your home.They are on the market already but they are costly - between £6,000 and £18,000, depending on the sort you install and the size of your home.
Heat pumps are subsidised under a scheme called the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. People receive payments for seven years based on the amount of renewable heat made by their heating systems.Heat pumps are subsidised under a scheme called the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. People receive payments for seven years based on the amount of renewable heat made by their heating systems.
However, MPs say people need much better incentives to have heat pumps fitted. However, MPs have called for better incentives to have heat pumps fitted.
Depending on the type of technology used, installation can be a lot of hassle - involving fitting bigger radiators and maybe sometimes digging into floors. What are the drawbacks?
What's more, heat pumps need high levels of insulation which aren't always possible on older solid-walled homes that populate many of the UK's cities. Depending on the type of technology used, installation can be a lot of hassle - involving fitting bigger radiators and sometimes digging into floors.
The government's recent Green Homes Grant was supposed to help get heat pumps established. But it failed and was scrapped after six months, to the dismay of MPs who want a multi-decade scheme to help people heat their homes cleanly. What's more, heat pumps need high levels of insulation - these aren't always possible in the older solid-walled homes that populate many of the UK's cities.
Ignore hype over hydrogen heating, government told The recent Green Homes Grant was supposed to help get heat pumps established. But it failed and was scrapped after six months, to the dismay of MPs who want a multi-decade scheme to help people heat their homes cleanly.
The government has promised to produce a new incentive scheme before November.
Even with the grants it's not clear yet whether the new scheme will make heat pumps cheaper to run than gas boilers.
One thing is certain though - the bills will be much more predictable and you won't have a spike in price like the one that's currently troubling people.
Homes to be heated by warm water from flooded minesHomes to be heated by warm water from flooded mines
How will we heat homes in zero-carbon Britain?How will we heat homes in zero-carbon Britain?
Sea's heat to warm historic houseSea's heat to warm historic house
What other options are there? District heating
Well, 14% of UK greenhouse gases come from our homes - a similar level to emissions from cars - so we have to find answers. Another technology that may be available in some areas is district heating.
But in truth, there won't be just one solution to clean home heating. The energy giant Vattenfall is planning a network of hot water pipes in south-east London that could benefit up to half a million homes, businesses, and public buildings.
New housing estates increasingly will be warmed by district networks of pipes supplying many homes from a single low-carbon source - a heat pump in a river, for instance. The heat will be produced from burning waste, which is controversial. In other places it may come from heat pumps sunk into rivers and the sea, bringing shared warmth to communities.
In a very few places heat might come from burning wood or fuel crops, where these are readily available in the right quantities. Burning wood in home log burners may be a delight, but it will be frowned upon, particularly in cities, where the fine smoke particles get deep into people's lungs. Again, bills should be more predictable and stable.
In a very few places heat might come from burning wood or fuel crops, where these are readily available in the right quantities.
Burning wood in home-log burners may be a delight, but it will be frowned upon, particularly in cities, where the fine smoke particles get deep into people's lungs.
What about hydrogen?
Big gas companies are keen on hydrogen, because it could continue to flow through their pipes to many homes.
The government is pioneering trials of hydrogen heating, with a series of pilots before the end of the decade,
But there are huge challenges.
Of the two methods of producing hydrogen, blue hydrogen creates greenhouse gas emissions during its production, so it also relies on capturing and storing those gases securely. The technology to do that won't be rolled out quickly enough to make a difference this decade.
Meanwhile, green hydrogen is manufactured using electricity, which can be carbon-neutral, but the process is currently far too expensive for the scale we need.
So while it will play a vital part in industries such as chemicals, steel and cement, hydrogen is unlikely to be produced in sufficient quantity to be heating many people's homes.
Water from Dawdon mine in County Durham is being used to heat a garden village
What other options are being considered?
Some places, such as Cornwall, will be able to use geothermal energy - from hot underground rocks. There's already a geothermally heated swimming pool in Penzance, for instance. But such opportunities nationwide will be scarce.Some places, such as Cornwall, will be able to use geothermal energy - from hot underground rocks. There's already a geothermally heated swimming pool in Penzance, for instance. But such opportunities nationwide will be scarce.
The agency that looks after decommissioned coal mines is pushing the idea that warm water could be drawn from old mine shafts to help with home heating.The agency that looks after decommissioned coal mines is pushing the idea that warm water could be drawn from old mine shafts to help with home heating.
The nuclear industry has also recently got into the act, arguing that surplus heat from nuclear stations could prove useful.The nuclear industry has also recently got into the act, arguing that surplus heat from nuclear stations could prove useful.
Heat batteries - like giant high-tech storage heaters - will play a part. So may infrared indoor heat panels that heat the inhabitants rather than the room - these are already used in some pub gardens. Heat batteries - like giant high-tech storage heaters - will play a part, along with infrared indoor heat panels, some of which are already used in some pub gardens.
So lots of options… but be warned: the great task of shifting heating from gas will be expensive and difficult. Hopefully the big picture should be more clear in a couple of months.
Politicians don't like those words much, which is why the government's Heat and Buildings Strategy, expected next month, has been so long-delayed.
Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabinFollow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin