Tackling the heating crisis: Circular design and the future of home energy storage – EQ Mag

As the environmental and financial costs of gas and oil boilers escalate, electric heat pumps have emerged as a promising eco-friendly heating solution – but they only go so far

We must integrate heat pumps with renewable energy sources and energy storage technology, creating a smart, adaptable and sustainable home energy system.

This shift hinges on contractors, architects, housebuilders, designers, manufacturers and policymakers prioritising home energy storage with sustainable design, maintenance and innovation within the circular economy industry, ultimately paving the way for a cleaner, greener future for all.

Today’s energy landscape and heat pumps

Cleaner, cheaper home energy systems are top of mind for consumers, policymakers and the construction industry. Heating homes is responsible for around 14% of carbon emissions in the UK and nearly 80% of UK residents used gas to keep warm last winter, while facing gas price rises by nearly 120% in the 12 months up to February 2023 (according to the Institute for Government and the Office for National Statistics). Such heavy reliance on expensive fossil fuel heating is far out of step with the UK’s aim of net zero by 2050.

As UK builders, developers and architects phase out gas boilers in new homes by 2025, the search for a viable, sustainable and long-term alternative heating system is underway. Heat pumps, which can reduce carbon footprint by two-thirds or more, are the most talked about alternative today.

There are clear economic and environmental advantages to heat pumps but they are not a “one-size-fits-all” solution and may not be suitable for every home. Like all appliances consuming significant electricity, an air source heat pump will require much more energy when stressed and their varied and fluctuating requirement for electricity must be addressed.

Combining renewable energy at home with energy storage technologies

To meet the growing demand for electricity due to the adoption of heat pumps, our current power systems must adapt. To minimise carbon emissions and lower energy costs for consumers, a transition to renewable energy sources is essential for homes.

Energy storage acts as a clean technology enhancer and complements heat pumps. It helps address increased electricity demand and costs while providing a smart, flexible, and reliable home energy system to support the operation of the heat pump.

Combining renewable technology with a battery energy storage system (BESS) is a highly efficient method for accessing clean energy that offers flexibility in terms of power supply, regardless of the availability of sunlight. By simply connecting the BESS to solar panels, the system is capable of storing solar energy as electricity, ready to power the heat pump or other low-carbon heating alternatives such as electric heaters, for much colder months.

A BESS’s independence from the grid has obvious advantages for rural locations but for the majority of properties, being able to connect has added benefits. Surplus clean energy can be sold back to the grid, helping to recover installation costs more quickly and reducing overall carbon emissions.

Importantly, scheduling recharging during off-peak hours enables the system to take advantage of lower electricity tariffs. By utilising renewable energy sources and optimising the use of mains electricity during low-cost tariff periods, users can substantially lower operating expenses and decrease carbon emissions for themselves and the UK’s power grid.

Not all home energy storage technologies are created equal

Energy storage is an incredibly important and often overlooked component of sustainable and affordable heating systems, but it must be recognised that increased battery waste is its own, significant threat to the environment.

“SHIFTING THE GLOBAL PRIMARY ENERGY STORAGE FROM HYDROCARBONS TO BATTERIES WITHOUT A WELL-CONSIDERED PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE DEPLETED IS NOT A STRATEGY TO STAND ON; IT’S TOMORROW’S ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.” DR AMRIT CHANDAN, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF ACELERON

As the UK and the world transition to clean energy sources, and demand for batteries and energy storage systems increase, we risk creating a battery waste crisis. The mounting issue of battery waste endangers the environment and human health, as toxic substances infiltrate our air, soil and water. Depletion of valuable resources exacerbates the problem, while fragile ecosystems teeter on the brink of disruption.

The answer is long-lasting solutions, based on circular economy principles. BESSs must be maintained, serviced, scaled and upgraded over time without unnecessary landfill disposal.

Aceleron’s Offgen is the first energy storage system designed to support a sustainable model. Instead of permanent assembly methods, Offgen uses patented compression technology, enabling the batteries to be taken apart, down to a single cell, for repair, maintenance and upgrade, facilitating a resilient battery system. Serviced batteries can match the wear of solar PV panels – giving an extended lifespan of over 20 years rather than 4-5 for normal batteries. And when finally at the end of use, the components can be separated and reused or recycled to reduce waste.

Scalability and flexibility offer users great value for their money. They can easily add more cabinets for larger capacity and if they move, the all-in-one system can be disconnected and taken with owners to their new home, becoming a convenient and long-lasting solution for home heating.

Policymakers and businesses need to take action
Suppliers must consider how their products are designed and maintained for years of use and then managed for safer end-of-engineered life. Repairable, long-life products bring down costs for the user and our planet.

We have policies for heat pumps and renewable sources such as solar panels, but policymakers seem to have overlooked the potential for energy storage technologies to support and deliver cleaner, more consistent and cost-effective heating for homes. The government must raise energy storage to a priority and do more to incentivise circular economy innovation more widely, with bolstered investment through tax incentives and grant funding.

“WE NEED TO GROW THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY WITH REAL POWER, URGENCY AND INNOVATION. THE GOVERNMENT MUST STACK THE DECK SO THAT HUMAN INGENUITY IN THE FORM OF BUSINESS INNOVATION AND GROWTH IS HARNESSED IN THE RIGHT WAY TO MEET SOCIETY’S LONG-TERM NEEDS.” DR AMRIT CHANDAN

There’s still a long way to go before heat pumps and BESSs become a standard feature in every UK home, but it’s a path we must pursue. It’s time for policymakers and industry stakeholders to take bold actions and drive us towards widespread adoption. Cost-effective, green and energy-efficient heating is not only essential for the UK’s net zero ambitions but also for reducing energy bills, addressing our most pressing challenges both today and in the future. Let’s embrace renewable energy and a robust circular economy to build a sustainable future – and let’s start now.

Source: pbctoday