Carbon dioxide (CO2) andincreasing the efficiency of heating systems leads to the fact that gas boilers in the near future will become irrelevant. How to heat houses without fossil fuels, read on.
Why are gas boilers harmful?
For several hundred years, humanity has been supplying transportThese fuels have become an important tool of the industrial and technological revolution, but they will not be used forever for two reasons.If the consequences areglobal warming is already being felt, the limited amount of minerals at the momentThe public cares little.
Over ten years ago the governmentGreat Britain passed the Climate Change Act, which can be an example for many countries. The essence of the decree is that the level of carbon emissions in the UK should be reduced by at least 80% by 2050. To achieve this goal, ministers are allowed to take almost any measures, but the priority is the introduction of technologies that replace environmentally harmful fuels.
A special committee has been created to monitorcompleting the task. The results are already there – In 2017, the UK cut its carbon emissions by 43% compared to 1990 levels, but progress has stalled and now requires radical action. For example, a ban on the installation of gas boilers from 2025, as well as a mandatory requirement for minimum energy efficiency for any boiler at 92%.
Gas heating will become history
The UK's National Grid has revealed that 8 out of 10 homes in the country are connected to the gas network for heating. How to replace so many boilers?
The most likely solution seems to be a hydrogen network.Hydrogen (H2) produces no emissions during combustion, generating only heat and water vapor. Hydrogen is an efficient fuel because it produces large amounts of energy − 1 kg of H2 provides the same amount of energy as 2.8 kg of gasoline.
Hybrid heating principle
Hybrid is a relatively simple installation,which includes a combined boiler connected to radiators or underfloor heating, as well as a heat pump with an air source, which is installed outside the house. The installation can be placed next to a separate hot water cylinder or solar thermal system.
However, low-carbon devices cannot be considered the only possible way to achieve the goal, since it has its drawbacks.
Hydrogen network problems
H2 is considered dangerous because it is easyflammable. In addition, the process of creating hydrogen itself is accompanied by the release of CO2, which nullifies the very idea of using hydrogen to combat harmful emissions into the atmosphere. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to separate carbon in methane steam converters, which leads to additional costs.
Another significant problem is thatthat it can be difficult for homeowners to explain why they need to replace their boilers and even more difficult to get them to pay for the entire process. In order to raise awareness of citizens, an “advertising campaign” is being carried out, which demonstrates the advantages of hydrogen plants.
Solar thermal installations
In plants of this kind, solar energyIt is not used to convert to electricity, but directly to heat water. As a result, the boiler runs less, which reduces heating costs.
Solar thermal panels (collectors)installed on the roof. Panels consist of tubes of liquid that absorb heat from the sun. Heated liquid enters the house, and heat is transferred to the hot water tank through a heat exchanger. After that, hot water passes inside the pipes, as in a conventional heating system. If the house already has an electric heating system or an immersion heater, solar photovoltaic panels will generate electricity for these systems.
What do homeowners do
Unfortunately, there is no single solution forevery home. Technology that works best in a 5-bedroom detached house cannot be applied to a 2-bedroom terrace in the city center. It cannot be expected that homeowners with low incomes will be able to install a hybrid boiler without financial support from the state, guided only by the idea of a clean planet. Many unresolved problems are hindering the introduction of new heating technologies, but this process has already started and in 5-6 years the UK will give an answer whether it is worth abandoning gas boilers.
