Zero Carbon Britain by 2030 with heat pumps and reduced f-gas emissions
[ added 22 June, 2010 ]
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The UK's Centre for Alternative Technology suggests a roadmap for addressing carbon emissions in the UK. Cutting carbon emissions by 90% by 2030 will be possible thanks to applying heat pumps at a large scale and reducing f-gas emissions.
According to the ‘zerocarbonbritain2030’ scenario set out in the ‘Zero Carbon Britain 2030’ report, the UK can be zero carbon by 2030. The UK can cut 90% of its emissions by 2030, together with ‘carbon capture’ equivalent for the remaining 10%. Thus, it is possible for the UK to go beyond its current commitment to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Substitutes available for HFCs
Regarding extremely potent greenhouse gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the report assesses that “there are reasonably-priced mitigation options and substitutes available for nearly all applications” for which they are used.
The zerocarbonbritain2030 scenario, hence, assumes that by 2030 emissions from the super greenhouse gases HFCs, perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) will have been reduced to 10% of their current quantity. “The technologies to reduce all of these gases to minimal quantities have been readily available for a long time”, reads the report, referring to measures such as the use of natural refrigerants including CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbons in mobile and stationary applications.
Heat pumps to cater for large part of heating needs
Heat pumps used in domestic and non-domestic settings on an individual house basis or as part of district heating have a key role in the ‘zerocarbonbritain2030’ scenario. Indeed the report considers that 54% of domestic heat demand and 40% of non-domestic demand will be met by heat pumps in 2030.
BeyondHFCs welcomes the new report and urges the new UK administration to carefully consider its findings. Indeed, technologies to reduce HFC emissions and namely natural refrigerant technologies have been available for a long time. Natural refrigerant heat pumps are reliable sources of carbon emissions reductions because when they leak they have no climate warming effect. BeyondHFCs calls for a careful consideration of heat pump technologies, as these can be very effective in covering our heating needs.
To read the ZeroCarbonBritain2030 report click here.
