Renewable Heating Technologies Research Articles

Renewable heating: Perspectives and the impact of policy instruments

In the light of the EU directive for renewable energy (2009/28/EC) this paper deals with the question how various policy instruments could impact the development of renewable heating technologies. The paper applies the simulation model Invert/EE-Lab for the building related heat demand in selected European countries (Austria, Lithuania and United Kingdom). The resulting scenarios up to 2030 are compared to RES-Heat targets from literature, stakeholder consultation processes and the targets in the national renewable energy action plans submitted by EU Member States in 2010. The results demonstrate that use obligations for renewable heating can be effective in achieving RES-Heat market growth. However, in order to attain a balanced technology mix and more ambitious targets, policy packages are required combining use obligations with economic incentives and accompanying measures. Technology specific conclusions are derived. Moreover, conclusions indicate that the action plans are not always consistent with policy measures in place or under discussion.

A study on the implementation of renewable heating technologies in the domestic sector in Ireland with implications on consumers' decision-making

Abstract The paper critically reviews and explores the impact of renewable energy heat policies to induce technological change in Ireland. It is in response to the challenge of better understanding the broad effects and attributes of renewable energy policy instruments in Ireland and beyond. Using the Irish residential sector as a case study, and analysing data of more than 31,600 technology installations under the Irish Government's Greener Homes Scheme [GHS], the paper assesses the extent to which policy makers may be informed of the willingness of consumers to adopt these technologies in their homes. In doing so, it attempts to provide valuable guidance for policy evaluation in relation to renewable energy in the residential sector. It represents investment decisions and technological choice by the end user and reflects the growing concern among energy policy markets regarding the representation of user preferences. The overall intent is to investigate the implications of analysing different variables and their contribution to making more balanced renewable energy policies. It provides a critical analysis of the Greener Homes Scheme, the key instrument for implementing Ireland's renewable heating policy from 2006 to 2010, established to induce technological change within the residential sector. In assessing the impact of the Scheme, attention focuses on decision frameworks for technological choice and the treatment of market and behavioural failures. It considers how consumers have responded to new technological policies aimed at deploying renewable heat technologies, and the specific policies aimed at advancing certain technologies over others. Through a case study investigation, the paper explores the relationship and dependencies that influence consumers' decision-making regarding the choice of renewable energy heating technologies in the domestic sector in Ireland. Consumer preferences and their subsequent investment decisions, motives and technological choice are reflected. It concludes that while economic factors are important, a much broader variety of determinants is required when analysing the process of adoption of technology.

Diffusion of renewable heating technologies in households. Experiences from the Norwegian Household Subsidy Programme

A sample of 896 Norwegian households participating in a subsidy programme was surveyed in order to evaluate the success of the programme. The programme subsidised investments in new heating technologies, including heat pumps and pellet stoves. The success of the programme was measured by the degree of overall satisfaction with the investment by the sampled households. Theories on diffusion of innovations and planned behaviour motivate the empirical modelling of the investment satisfaction.The economic return on the investment varied substantially both within and between the two heating technologies, with heat pumps outperforming pellet stoves in this respect. Still, the economic return showed no explanatory power toward the investment satisfaction of the household. Among the economic variables, only the electricity price had any influence on investment satisfaction. Technical quality, indoor climate and heat comfort, and the availability of the supplier of the heating equipment were the most important explanatory variables.

Technological innovation systems for microgeneration in the UK and Germany – a functional analysis

This paper examines the deployment of microgeneration in Germany and the UK from a technological innovation systems (TIS) perspective. Based on the TIS functions approach, we condense supportive and obstructive factors and discuss the differences in the respective national setting for small-scale renewable and combined heat and power (CHP) technologies. The findings underline the relevance of legitimation and of institutional and financial support. High degrees of legitimacy were achieved in both the UK and Germany. In Germany, early institutional and financial support reduced uncertainty for new market entrants and consumers, and fuelled a self-reinforcing diffusion dynamic for small renewables. In the UK, by comparison, microgeneration enjoys little support. The paper concludes that distributed generation will not be successful without a more focussed and technology-oriented innovation policy.

Factors influencing the uptake of heat pump technology by the UK domestic sector

Enhancement of energy efficiency and introduction of newer and more efficient space and water heating technologies in the UK domestic sector are essential if the UK is to achieve its ambitious target for 2050 of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to less than 80% of 1990 levels. The UK domestic sector currently relies heavily on conventional boilers for space and water heating even though electric or gas engine driven vapour compression heat pumps can provide heating and cooling with more than double the efficiency of conventional boilers. UK government has recently introduced laws and policies that are designed to accelerate the uptake of renewable heating technologies by domestic consumers rather than relying solely on market forces. To date despite their excellent performance heat pumps are not the primary choice of the general UK domestic consumer. Factors that may influence this behaviour have been analysed and are discussed here.

Combined solar–biomass district heating in Austria

Further market penetration by solar thermal systems needs a solution to overcome the mismatch between solar energy supply and energy demand. The implementation of thermal storage in a solar system is of great importance for effective use of the intermittent solar radiation. There are many possibilities to store solar energy, directly or indirectly, depending on the application. For space heating purposes with a high solar share, the integration of long-term (seasonal) storage is necessary because of the mismatch between solar radiation and heating demand during winter. New attractive applications for renewable energy heating technologies in Austria are combined solar–biomass heating systems, both individual systems as well as in combination with district heating. Biogenic fuel sources in the form of firewood, bark and wood chips from the forests and as remnants from the wood processing industry are an obvious form of ‘ natural storage’ for solar energy, locally available, which can be stored, transported and grow again. Biomass is therefore an optimal form of seasonal storage for solar energy and an attractive auxiliary fuel for solar heating systems.