NEA Northern Ireland Energy Advice Forum

Beyond the Status Quo - Innovative

ways to tackle fuel poverty

Agenda

• Background to current (and recent) work

• Insulation

• Heating Systems including off natural gas

• Heating Controls

• Photovoltaics - energy storage and management

• Time Of Use (TOU) & Variable Rate Electricity Tariffs

• Complementary devices (VPO, Heating enhancement devices, mechanical ventilation)

NEA Technical:

• Is delivering several current projects with electrical Distribution Network operators (DNOs), and Gas (GDNs)

• A Research Project with a large Housing Association

• A Health Research Project funded by a County Council and a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in England, researching Excess Winter Deaths in their county.

• Several Project Evaluations

• A significant “Redress” programme

Current & Recent Work

Overall programme aims to:

• Provide energy efficiency measures to those in or most at risk of fuel poverty

• To benefit at least as many households as did not benefit from the underperforming Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) schemes & Areas

• Provide an independently endorsed evaluation methodology and wide dissemination of findings

Overall REDRESS Programme

Three Distinct Funds 1. Warm Zones Fund – Cost effective delivery of energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures in

volume to vulnerable householders as efficiently as possible

– Targets 3000 substantive Measures

2. Warm and Healthy Homes Fund – To establish new models of working with colleagues in health and social

care, providing measures (circa £3250) to households most at risk of fuel poverty and cold-related illness

– Targets 1000 substantive Measures 1000 Smaller Measures

3. Technical Innovation Fund – To promote new solutions to fuel poverty utilising energy saving

measures not traditionally in scope of current schemes – Targets 640 substantive Measures 900 Smaller Measures (circa £7500 & £1000 respectively)

Drivers

• Understand the performance of technology in fuel poor households

• Understand the acceptability of technology in fuel poor households

• Understand the performance of technology in comparison to “expected” performance – SAP, modelled, manufacturers predictions etc

• Suggest alternative deployment models for funding mechanisms

NEA Research & Technical Projects

(TIF)

TIF: Headline Facts & Figures

• 45 TIF Programmes now live

• £2.6 million gap and match funding generated

• Testing 30 technologies, 81 products

• Monitoring and evaluation in different household types and

buildings and combinations of products (≈ 750 households)

• Covering England & Wales working with LA/HA/RSL’s & CIC’s

• Low income FP households

• The Technical Team have numerous other Business as usual projects – evaluation, research, advisory

Impact of the technologies on • Residents energy usage (bills, data logging, manual reads) • Residents comfort level (Perception and datalogging) • Satisfaction & usability (ease of use, space, noise, performance). • Reliability & maintenance • Other outcomes (dampness, health, neighbourhoods, social) • Economics / business case.

• If technology is detrimental to the household (comfort, cost

usability etc), address the issue satisfactorily or REMOVE IT

Overview of study methodologies

Oct 2015

March 2016

June 2016

Sept 2016

Dec 2016

Sept 2017

Dec 2015

Householder Data logging (Sample of Residents)

Star

t o

f C

on

clu

din

g In

terv

iew

s

Init

ial H

ou

seh

old

Inte

rvie

ws

Fin

al R

ep

ort

ing

Pro

ject

Kic

k O

ff &

Co

ntr

acts

Sig

ne

d

Mar 2017

// //

Ongoing Interviews Ongoing Final Evaluation Interviews

Data Analysis and Reporting

Dissemination

END

of

Co

ncl

ud

ing

Inte

rvie

ws

General Evaluation Model & Timeline Some Extended Monitoring Measures Installed

Sept 2018

//

Fin

al(e

xten

ded

pro

ject

) R

ep

ort

ing

Quantitative Evaluation

Electrical

Gas / oil / LPG

Heat & Flow

Environmental / Thermal

Innovation Fund Higher Cost (Large Measures)

Micro CHP

Hybrid ASHP Modern HHR Storage

Boiler flue gas heat recovery

Air to Air Heat Pumps

Gas Absorption Heat Pumps Heat Store

PV Battery Store

Innovation Fund Lower Cost (Small Measures)

Radiator Fans

Heating Controls

Smart controls

Boiler optimisation

Heat recovery ventilation

Voltage optimisation

INSULATION

Example Insulation IWI – Matildas Blanket (Planet) • PIR Modular Insulation • Pre Manufactured to measure • No plastering • Quick to Install • Tenant can remain “in situ”

EWI – Park Home Insulations Long neglected communities – previously without access to funding schemes • Comparison of various systems and application methods / costs • Jubizol, Paraclad, ParexTherm render, SSP Envirowall, Aerogel, • Plastering / no plastering methods • Some complimentary technologies eg MVHR or renewables / energy

storage

Underfloor – Innovative Application of PU Insulation • Robotic application of underfloor • Robotic Surveying & mapping • No intrusive demolition for access • Minimal damp risk • Tenant can remain “in situ”

Example Insulation Air Tightness & Insulation • 2 projects looking at whole house approach – Architect led • Survey • Measures identified – • Measures Installed eg thermal breaks, party wall, windows, doors,

eaves underfloor etc.

Insulation - Monitoring

Complemented by • Questionnaires • Energy use data • Thermal Imaging • Air Tightness

Heating Systems

Example Heating Systems

Micro Combined Heat & Power (mCHP) • Trialling Flow Boilers, Baxi EcoGen and BlueGen • Generally Mains Gas • Take advantage of Government Incentives (FIT) • Efficient

Ground Source Heat Pump • Trialling Ground Source Heat pump in sheltered housing complex • Valiant geoTHERM 3kW System with individual heat pumps in flats • Commercial RHI eligible (but not on this project) • Projected heating costs per resident circa £4 / week (partner)

Gas Absorption Heat Pump • Trialling Gas Absorption Heat pump in sheltered housing complex • Mains Gas • Efficient • Residents charged for heat through “in flat” metering

Example Heating Systems High Temp Heat Pump with Thermal Stores • Trialling Daikin high temp heat Pumps • Trialling Phase Change Material Heat Battery - SUNAMP • Take advantage of Government Incentives (FIT – but not this project) • Efficient – utilise Economy 7 cheap rate electricity

Air – Air Heat Pump • Long neglected technology • Trialling in Park homes • Efficient

Hybrid Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) • Trialling Hybrid ASHPs in various situations • Hybridised with Gas and Oil • 2 manufacturers– Mitsubishi and Daikin • Intelligent and configurable • Take advantage of Government Incentives (RHI -but not this project)

Example Heating Systems

Biomass • Trialling basic biomass • Take advantage of Government Incentives (RHI) (outside of this project)

• Efficient • Wanted to trial advanced automated pellet boilers or small District

Heating Scheme

Electric Heating – Off-Peak • Primarily Trialling Dimplex Quantum HHR modern storage • SAP Appendix Q approved • Efficient • Automated / Intelligent • Potential for Grid Balancing

Electric Heating – On-Peak • Trialling On=Peak electric heating with impressive manufacturers claims

(resident protected from increased costs) • Examples include Rointe, Osily, Fischer, Logicor • Some Far-InfraRed • 100% Efficient!

Heating Controls

• “We often find older generations are not able to use their heating controls effectively – it could be that the devices are too complicated to programme, or that they have arthritis or poor eyesight preventing them from operating them”

• “So there is the opportunity for the installer or electrician to help by recommending and installing effective and easy to use heating controls, and ensuring they demo them properly so customers understand how to use them.

Installer Online (Web), 12/09/2016

DECC (2012) “How much energy could be saved by making small changes to everyday household

One recent extract from a recent trade journal

Example Controls

NEST – Smart thermostat • Adapts based on the residents lifestyle - turns on/off using

householders location • Monitors weather

Shows household energy history can be controlled via smartphone. (no quoted savings)

• Cost ≈ £249

Chop Cloc – Boiler timer • Homeowners can place regular periods of “off” time in the boiler

heating program • Minimal user involvement • Simple to use • Manufacturer claims up to 30% saving on heating bills • Cost ≈ £69.99

Honeywell Evohome – Smart thermostat with TRV controls • Room by room heating system, each room can have an individual

heating program. • Can be controlled via smartphone. • Quoted Savings 53% (Brochure) • Cost ≈ £250 (extra for additional TRVs)

Example Controls Heat Genius – Smart thermostat • Control the heating in individual rooms. • Control via laptop/smartphone. • Projected savings 50% • Cost ≈ £700

Tado– Smart thermostat • Control the heating in individual rooms. • Control via laptop/smartphone. • Tracks resident motion in home – also out of the home (via app)

heating comes on when resident is close by. • Projected savings 31% • Cost ≈ £800

Netatmo– Smart thermostat • Control via laptop/smartphone. • Learns homeowners schedule. • Projected savings 37% • Cost ≈ £140

Example Controls

Climote– Smart thermostat • Control heating and hot water and from a in home display, smartphone

app, SMS or online. • Zonal heating • Manufactured in Co Louth • €399 Euro (≈£350). • No quoted savings

HIVE – Smart thermostat • Manufactuer claims you could save up to £150 a year on heating bills. • Control heating and hot water from home and from a smartphone. • £249 includes install. • No quoted savings

Co control– Smart thermostat • Heating control and budget management system – algorithm considers

budget to ensure comfort. • Tailored to social housing • Provides high level of data to landlords or interested parties • No quoted savings

Photovoltaics and Energy Storage &

Management

Example PV Related Projects

Power Diverters • Divert excess PV generated electrical power to immersion heating • Maximise use of PV energy without impacting on Government

Incentives (FIT / ET) • Efficient & Automatic

Battery Storage • Several systems being trialled • Examples include – Tesla, Moxia Maslow, Leclanche, SonnenBatt,

Victron, Growatt, Powervault • Considering the economics as well as the results • Maximise use of PV energy without impacting on any Government

Incentives (FIT / ET)

The TIF Funding could not fund PV, but we have several complimentary products being trialled

TOU Tariffs

Dynamo with appropriate tariff • This project focusses on an electric storage heated tower block • Uses existing “old” storage heating • Minimal disruption to householders • Resident “protected” from increased charges as part of project.

Economy 7, 10, Heatwise and TOU In the future, TOU will become commonplace, our projects are

testing the early effect this may have. Several large well resourced projects exist in GB to research the effect of this on the Distribution Network our project will look at maximising (automatically) the impact of changing electricity prices on the householder.

High Temp Heat Pump with Thermal Stores • Trialling Daikin high temp heat Pumps • Trialling phase Change Material Heat Battery - SUNAMP • Take advantage of Government Incentives (FIT) • Efficient – utilise Economy 7 cheap rate electricity

Already discussed earlier

Complimentary Devices

MVHR • This project focusses on evaluating several of these devices • Example technologies include Ventive, Spirovent, Ventaxia, Envirovent • Improves comfort (Humidity), can react to high humidity • Reduces moisture - potentially mould and health issues • Recovers 75% of [usually] lost energy

Complimentary Technologies

There are several projects trialling smaller complimentary technologies with the potential to reduce energy consumption or improve comfort Some stand alone projects, some additional to another

Heating System Enhancement • Trialling several products • Example technologies include Oxypod, Magnaclean, Tadpole, Spirovent • Trialling some additives such as Endotherm

Rad Fan • This is a radiator fan evaluation project • Manufacturer claims energy saving – lets see!

Complimentary Technologies

Voltage power Optimisation • This project focusses on evaluating VPO • Many manufacturers claim substantial savings • The project aims to quantify savings – few trails have been conducted

(One being your own Northern Exposure project)

By reducing the excess voltage at the point of incoming electrical supply we can reduce bills by up to 14%

10 Customer Facing Documents

Household Support Where NEA is in contact with householder – we ALWAYS offer bespoke advice

Finally

I work closely with NEA Northern Ireland and I would be delighted to support the team with any technical projects which

could be delivered locally

There is lots more to be done!

Thank You

Michael Hamer

Technical Manager NEA

michael.hamer@nea.org.uk

http://www.nea.org.uk/hip/technical-innovation-fund/