Heat is the largest energy end-use with nearly 50% of global final energy consumption
Heat is an energy form crucial for determining the temperature, volume, and state of materials. It's transferred from warmer to cooler objects and produced through converting chemical or electrical energy. Essential for heating buildings, providing hot water, cooking, and industrial processes, heat significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising heat is vital for emission reduction but is complex due to its varied production and use methods.
Unlike electricity, which can be decarbonised via renewable energy, heat requires changes at the point of use, often necessitating the replacement of gas or oil-fired boilers. A multifaceted approach is essential, involving electrification with heat pumps, sustainably-produced hydrogen, and district heating networks incorporating low-carbon sources and waste heat. Efficiency improvements in buildings' thermal performance and heating systems, alongside combined heat and power (CHP), can enhance the energy system's efficiency. However, public acceptance, high costs, and infrastructure needs are challenges.
Learn about the decarbonisation of heat by reading our Energy Insights.
Find out energy professionals’ expectations for the future sources of heat in the UK.
Learn more about the future of heat and its role in society by browsing our online New Energy World magazine records.
£0billion
of additional investment needed to install low-carbon heating in existing UK homes from 2020-2050 as estimated by the Climate Change Committee (Department for Energy and Net Zero)
0%
of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK is attributable to heating homes (Department for Energy and Net Zero)
0bcm
global reduction in gas demand needed to heat buildings by 2030 due to heat pump uptake and energy efficiency improvements (IEA)
About 0%
of heating needs in buildings were met by heat pumps in 2023 (IEA)
What's new?
Integrated heat pump/EV charger offerings coming to UK market
2nd July 2025
First is a service that includes the car. Previewed at an Octopus Energy event in June, and launching later this year, is the Power Pack Bundle, which...
World’s largest sand battery enters operation in Finland
18th June 2025
The battery delivers 1 MW of thermal power and offers a storage capacity of 100 MWh, making it 10 times larger than the unit launched in Kankaanpää in...
EU gas demand set to drop 7% by 2030 – but UK deal with Norway bucks the trend
18th June 2025
EU gas decline acceleratesEmber’s analysis of EU member states’ national plans predicts that EU gas demand is set to fall from 326bn m3 in...
Down, down, down: new drilling technologies are improving prospects for geothermal power by reducing project duration, cutting costs and drilling deeper wells
18th June 2025
Fervo Energy drills a 15,000-foot, 500°F geothermal wellHouston-based Fervo Energy has announced the successful drilling and logging of it...
UK government confirms £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan amid criticism of retrofit policy failures
18th June 2025
The £13.2bn of funding for the Warm Homes Plan was originally promised as part of the Labour government’s manifesto. Reeves confirmed the full funding...
Events and training
Level 3: Advanced Energy Manager
29th September 2025 - 3rd December 2025
This 9-day course is an advanced qualification aiming to support experienced energy managers to further advance their careers by gaining the skills an...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3560
Research report: Global activities in hydrogen development
June 2024
This report covers various developmental activities across the hydrogen value chain, encompassing production, transportation/distribution, storage, an...
EI 3499
Research report: Application of life cycle assessment methodology to the understanding of the energy balance and efficiency of hydrogen value chain building blocks
May 2022
This document is free to download for registered users.This publication explores the efficiencies of the hydrogen energy system and quantifies the ene...
EI Recommended Practice 1597 Procedures for overwing fuelling to ensure delivery of the correct fuel grade to an aircraft
January 2017
This publication is available to download for free by registering/logging in to this site.This publication provides recommendations to assist those in...
IP 309: Diesel and domestic heating fuels - Determination of cold filter plugging point copy
March 2016
ScopeThis European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of diesel and domestic heating fuels (se...
EI 3084
Guidelines for the safe design and operation of shell and tube heat exchangers to withstand the impact of tube failure
November 2015
This second edition guidance contains major additions to the first and focuses on improving the inherent safety of designs, including protection of as...