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.
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.
0bcm
global reduction in gas demand needed to heat buildings by 2030 due to heat pump uptake and energy efficiency improvements (IEA)
0.0%
of heat generation was met by renewable sources globally in 2023 (IRENA)
>0.0%
of global energy related CO2 emissions are a result of heating and cooling (IRENA)
≅0%
of global heating needs in buildings were met by heat pumps in 2024 (IEA)
New Energy World stories
Dutch harness heat from artificial turf sports pitches to power 300 homes
14th July 2026
The municipalities of Amsterdam and Haarlem, together with sports facility management organisation SRO, plan to renew over 250 synthetic pitches throu...
Power-to-X enters a new operational phase
7th July 2026
As one of Denmark’s earliest operational facilities begins hydrogen production, Germany’s ERA ONE plant has become the first Power-to-Liquid facility ...
Workforce shortfall threatens UK government’s Warm Homes Plan, trade body warns
15th June 2026
The Warm Homes Plan aims to install 450,000 pumps annually by 2030. As of October 2025, 1,801 companies certified by the Microgeneration Certification...
Solid oxide technologies move into real-world industrial energy and off-grid power applications
26th May 2026
Recent announcements from companies including Sunfire, Centrica and Ceres suggest the technology is progressing beyond standalone demonstration projec...
Poo power progress: projects turn sewage into energy
26th May 2026
First, UK startup Firefly has signed an agreement with Turkish engineering company Altaca to supply technology for a planned UK facility producing sus...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3622
G+ Good practice guidelines: Severe weather preparedness
March 2026
Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, in regions previously unexposed to such risks. The first edition of these guidelines utilises...
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...
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...
EI 3084
Guidelines for the safe design and operation of shell and tube heat exchangers to withstand the impact of tube failure
November 2015
This second edition guidance contains major additions to the first and focuses on improving the inherent safety of designs, including protection of as...
EI 3234
The influence of climatic factors on work performance in the oil and gas industry
November 2013
The energy industry operates in a wide range of environmental conditions across the globe. This report gives guidance on the impact of these condition...