Heat

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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.

What's new?

With geothermal refit, remote Atlantic archipelago turns to renewable energy supply

30th July 2025

The project entails the revamping of the Ribeira Grande geothermal plant, which has been in operation since 1994. Two of the four existing Organic Ran...

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Going for gold: UK spin-out wins $1mn for cool technology

30th July 2025

Barocal claims its technology can ‘deliver up to three times the energy efficiency of traditional systems’ and also that it ‘eliminates harmful refrig...

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Czech development just the latest news in a booming small modular (nuclear) reactor market

30th July 2025

  Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ sign early works agreement for Czech Republic SMRRolls-Royce SMR and Czech utility ČEZ have signed an early works ...

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UK government takes final investment decision on Sizewell C nuclear plant

23rd July 2025

The project was originally planned to be funded by a consortium of EDF and Chinese nuclear developer CGN. However, delays at sister project Hinkley Po...

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Power plant transformations provide a boost to the energy transition in Taiwan and the UK

16th July 2025

The first of three new gas-fired combined cycle blocks at Taiwan Power Company Nan Bu Construction Organization (TPC NPCO)’s Hsinta power plant in Kao...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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