Currently there are 4 million homes off the gas grid in UK and many of them are clustered in rural areas/villages. Of the 4 million homes, approximately 1.6 million rely on oil as their primary source of energy (and the rest mainly using electricity or Liquefied Petroleum Gas). In order to meet the Net Zero target, the off-gas grid community needs to transition fast. With no existing gas infrastructure and clarity in government policy to phase out carbon intensive heating methods, electrification of heat is deemed the most feasible and cost effective solution to decarbonise such communities. However, these communities need to overcome significant barriers with technology investment and electricity network capacity on their route to Net Zero emissions. Factors such as capital hurdle and disruption to customers need to be addressed and DNOs are required to find cost effective and future-proof network readiness solutions. A least regrets roadmap for transition must be defined.
Objectives
The objectives of the project are:
- Develop an understanding of the network impact of low carbon heat solutions;
- Develop a clear understanding of the potential value of an LAEP approach in delivering value to both the customer and DNO as compared to an uncoordinated approach;
- Develop a viable and replicable approach to LAEP which will enable the transition to Net Zero carbon for off-gas communities throughout GB;
- An appraisal of the impact of different commercial and technical approaches and their effect on network reinforcement requirements, reliability and cost to consumer; and
- An assessment of any regulatory and policy barriers for deployment which if addressed would deliver significant benefits to customers and network.
Learnings
Outcomes
The recommended next steps towards implementing the recommendations of the CommuniHeat coordinated method include:
· Soft market testing: Ovesco to take this roadmap out to suppliers of retrofits, heat pumps, PV farms and wind turbines & PPA providers to gauge appetite from industry.
· Pilot projects: Use the learnings from CommuniHeat to target some pilot projects within the area as proof of concept for different archetypes
· Heat pump metering: Install meters in the homes with existing ASHPs to monitor and validate modelling. This data can also be used to validate the diversity assumptions
The outputs of the project are:
· Qualitative data from over 150 household surveys and customers collated through online and door-to-door surveys;
· Digital Twin of Barcombe which combines local data, publicly accessible data (e.g. EPCs) and DNO infrastructure information;
· Analysis of different scenarios through a bespoke techno-economic model highlighting the costs/benefits of coordinated and uncoordinated approaches to decarbonising a rural off-gas grid community cluster such as Barcombe;
· Bespoke Home Action Plan which gives straight-forward, impartial advice to Barcombe residents on the steps they can take to reduce their energy usage and increase the energy efficiency of their home on their path to decarbonisation.
The project outcomes include:
· A credible methodology, based by on evidence and data, for how rural off-gas grid community clusters such as Barcombe can decarbonise in the most efficiency way possible;
· A full understanding of the role of UK Power Networks should maintain to facilitate the decarbonisation of rural off-gas grid communities;
· Feed-in data and analysis for Local Authorities and Community Energy Groups to target the roll-out of their energy efficiency and decarbonisation based on the most cost efficient and least disruptive scenarios.
As detailed in the Design Note, drafted by project partner Buro Happold:
“CommuniHeat has developed a tool suite that allows off-gas grid communities to find the optimum roadmap to achieve net zero. Building fabric retrofits, heat system upgrades, EVs and the impact on the DNO network have all been factored into the analysis.”
“The Barcombe’s roadmap developed as part of the project suggests that the community could collectively saved up to 30% in their overall household energy costs by taking a coordinated approach. This requires high community engagement, uptake and investment into community energy schemes.”
Lessons Learnt
· A complex research project with broad stakeholder appeal should always include a plan to share results in the simplest way possible so as to ensure a satisfactory conclusion to stakeholder participation;
· Where a large amount of feedback is desired, from multiple sources, an optimised approach would be to follow a consistent approach each time to ensure consistent responses which can provide more quantitative feedback.
· Full consultation with internal and external stakeholders prior to finalising a project can offer an opportunity to further improve project outcomes, i.e. data quality/accuracy;
· When relying on external research and data sources for a research project such as CommuniHeat, avoid duplication by consulting with potential data managers that may already have similar data.
