Heat is the largest energy end-use with nearly 50% of global final energy consumption
Heat is an energy form crucial for determining the temperature, volume, and state of materials. It's transferred from warmer to cooler objects and produced through converting chemical or electrical energy. Essential for heating buildings, providing hot water, cooking, and industrial processes, heat significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising heat is vital for emission reduction but is complex due to its varied production and use methods.
Unlike electricity, which can be decarbonised via renewable energy, heat requires changes at the point of use, often necessitating the replacement of gas or oil-fired boilers. A multifaceted approach is essential, involving electrification with heat pumps, sustainably-produced hydrogen, and district heating networks incorporating low-carbon sources and waste heat. Efficiency improvements in buildings' thermal performance and heating systems, alongside combined heat and power (CHP), can enhance the energy system's efficiency. However, public acceptance, high costs, and infrastructure needs are challenges.
Learn about the decarbonisation of heat by reading our Energy Insights.
Find out energy professionals’ expectations for the future sources of heat in the UK.
Learn more about the future of heat and its role in society by browsing our online New Energy World magazine records.
£0billion
of additional investment needed to install low-carbon heating in existing UK homes from 2020-2050 as estimated by the Climate Change Committee (Department for Energy and Net Zero)
0%
of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK is attributable to heating homes (Department for Energy and Net Zero)
0bcm
global reduction in gas demand needed to heat buildings by 2030 due to heat pump uptake and energy efficiency improvements (IEA)
About 0%
of heating needs in buildings were met by heat pumps in 2023 (IEA)
What's new?
Large scale drone scans could be the ‘Google Maps of thermal efficiency’
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The challenges of electrification of industry are contemplated on both sides of the English Channel
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Based on research by the University of Leeds, the UKERC/Aldersgate report suggests that under a favourable policy scenario, industrial electrification...
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‘Ambitious policy’ is needed to support decarbonisation of the global buildings sector, says ETC
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Global investment in the energy transition in 2024 exceeded $2tn for the first time, but the pace of growth has slowed
12/2/2025
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Events and training
Level 3: Advanced Energy Manager
29/9/2025 - 3/12/2025
This 9-day course is an advanced qualification aiming to support experienced energy managers to further advance their careers by gaining the skills an...
Technical guidance publications
Health Technical Information Sheets
February 2025
Health technical information sheet 1: Individual health risk assessmentsIntroductionHealth risk assessments are carried out to determine the risk of a...
EI 3560
Research report: Global activities in hydrogen development
June 2024
This report covers various developmental activities across the hydrogen value chain, encompassing production, transportation/distribution, storage, an...
EI 3499
Research report: Application of life cycle assessment methodology to the understanding of the energy balance and efficiency of hydrogen value chain building blocks
May 2022
This document is free to download for registered users.This publication explores the efficiencies of the hydrogen energy system and quantifies the ene...
EI Recommended Practice 1597 Procedures for overwing fuelling to ensure delivery of the correct fuel grade to an aircraft
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IP 309: Diesel and domestic heating fuels - Determination of cold filter plugging point copy
March 2016
ScopeThis European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of diesel and domestic heating fuels (se...