International Energy Agency (IEA) Annex 42 Heat Pumps in Smart Grids

The Heat Strategy puts heat pumps at the forefront of our long term ambition to decarbonise the heat sector through a greater proportion of electrified heating systems within an increasingly low carbon grid.

This electrification of heat energy will have a major impact on not only the capacity required by the grid but also the ability to respond and manage large peaks in electricity demand during cold spells when there is a large heating demand.

The deployment of smarter grid systems and technologies will therefore be vital in managing these peaks and in the case of heat pumps the potential to shift some of the electricity demand from peak periods could be valuable for future electricity networks and markets.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) runs more than 40 multilateral technology initiatives (also referred to as Implementing Agreements), covering the entire spectrum of energy policy. This project will contribute to IEA Annex 42 – Heat pumps in smart grids as part of the Implementing Agreement on Heat Pumps.

DECC requires a contractor to deliver the research for this Annex, to attend the relevant IEA meetings and to report their findings to DECC, the UK heat pump industry and the IEA.

The aims of the study are to critically evaluate past literature and current field trials to evaluate the evidence for methods to shift peak demand with a heat pump system and to collate this research, and that from other Annex partners, to develop standardised solutions for different domestic archetypes to facilitate heat pump systems that are capable of avoiding peak electricity periods.

This requirement was originally fulfilled for the period 29 October 2013 to 31 March 2016. A contract variation was put in place for the period 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2017. The original contract price was £34,350. It was extended by £15,800. Although the contract period and the tasks have increased there is no change to the original scope of the work.