Heat decarbonisation
The decarbonisation of heat is facing a major global challenge in its transition to a net zero carbon economy
Ricardo has been providing world-leading expertise and knowledge on all aspects of heat decarbonisation, from policy development through to feasibility and implementation of low/no-carbon heating technologies.
Our key capabilities in heat decarbonisation
Contact our heat experts about your decarbonisation plansThere are a number of options available to decarbonise heat, and at Ricardo we have developed a Heat Decarbonisation Hierarchy as a framework to outline the low carbon alternatives that our heat experts can support you with (see across)
As with the use of any resource, the 1st focus should be on reducing how much is used.
In the case of heat, opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of buildings should be a priority, ensuring future low carbon heating is designed to match reduced loads. For industrial heat users, processes should be optimised and opportunities for waste heat recovery explored, with cost effective solutions being implemented.
The next step is to make the transition from fossil-fuel based heating to a low carbon alternative – such as biomass, solar, heat pumps, or connection to low carbon heat networks.
For many industrial heat users, who require higher temperatures, heat pumps are less likely to be a feasible option, and therefore other opportunities such as fuel switching will need to be explored, for example the use of biofuels or hydrogen as alternative to fossil fuels.
Finally, for the most energy intensive and hard to abate sites which include high temperature processes within manufacturing, the opportunity to decarbonise lies in Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage, including Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), which has the potential for negative emissions.
Comprehensive heat decarbonisation support
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Design, development and quality assessment of combined heat and power (CHP) technologies.
Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage CCUS
Leading expertise and knowledge on carbon, capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).
Heat and cooling networks
Advice across the entire project life cycle of heat networks (including district heating and communal heating), and cooling networks.
Industrial heat decarbonisation
Expert strategies and robust scientific insights to decarbonise your industrial process heat.
Markets
This service is offered within the following sectors.
Discover our case studies
Sector perspectives on industrial decarbonisationThe role of solar energy in achieving carbon removals and net zero targets
Read insightPathways to Industrial Heat Decarbonisation
Read insightThe role of carbon capture, utilisation and storage in decarbonising energy from waste (EfW)
Read insightHeat decarbonisation Resources