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?
Cleanest-ever electricity recorded in the UK
15/1/2025
The analysis shows that in total, fossil fuels made up just 29% of the UK’s electricity in 2024 – the lowest level on record – while nuclear contribut...
Industry praises UK government plans for electricity system change proposals
8/1/2025
The Clean Power Action Plan aims to ‘clean up a dysfunctional grid system’ by prioritising the most important projects and ending the ‘first-come-firs...
World’s largest CO2-based seawater heat pump starts operations
11/12/2024
Operated by DIN Forsyning, the new heat pump plant will supply approximately 280,000 MWh/y of climate-neutral heat to the district heating networks of...
World’s first industrial-scale carbon capture plant at a cement facility moves into commissioning phase
11/12/2024
The plant’s carbon capture system, compression system, heat integration system, intermediate storage and loadout facilities are now complete and ready...
EDF and Centrica throw in six more years of nuclear power with UK AGR life extensions
11/12/2024
The Heysham 2 (Lancashire) and Torness (East Lothian) nuclear power plants will now keep producing zero-carbon electricity for an additional two years...
Events and training
Level 3: Advanced Energy Manager
28/9/2025 - 23/12/2025
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
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 explores the efficiencies of the hydrogen energy system and quantifies the energy intensity and associated GHG emissions, compared to ot...
EI Recommended Practice 1597 Procedures for overwing fuelling to ensure delivery of the correct fuel grade to an aircraft
January 2017
This publication provides recommendations to assist those involved in overwing fuelling of civil aircraft to ensure that the correct fuel grade is alw...
IP 309: Diesel and domestic heating fuels - Determination of cold filter plugging point copy
March 2016
This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of diesel and domestic heating fuels (see 3.1...
EI 3084
Guidelines for the safe design and operation of shell and tube heat exchangers to withstand the impact of tube failure
November 2015
Contains major additions to the first edition and focuses on improving the inherent safety of designs, including protection of associated piping and r...