A new report from the Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA) aims to set out a pathway for the decarbonisation of heat in advance of the Government's forthcoming Heat Strategy.
The report, called 'The Heat Revolution: Meeting Consumers' Needs in a Decarbonised Economy', focuses on the needs of all heat users and lays out the CHPA's vision for reducing heat's contribution to UK carbon emissions securely, efficiently and competitively, whilst facilitating the decarbonisation of wider energy use.

Heat provision currently accounts for more than half of the UK's energy demand and without a robust plan for heat decarbonisation, abating the UK's overall emissions is likely to prove more costly for energy users at all scales.

Speaking at the report's launch in the House of Commons, CHPA director Graham Meeks said: 'It has now become essential that reducing emissions from heat be placed at the heart of energy policy if the UK is to meet its decarbonisation targets.'

He added: 'Heat is not so much the Cinderella, but rather the sleeping giant of our energy economy. The Heat Strategy we expect from the Government in the coming weeks is a welcome step forward. The sheer diversity in the way we use energy for heat demands that this new policy begins with the user. Consumers are at the heart of the vision that we have set out today and we hope that it is one that the Government builds upon in this next stage of the decarbonisation of our economy.'

Stephen Marland, Future Projects and Innovations Manager at the National Grid, added: 'It's great to see that heat is finally moving up the agenda. Heat accounts for nearly half of our energy consumption and, of course, the majority of that energy comes from oil, and gas and electricity... We agree with the CHPA that a balance of solutions will depend on location, availability of existing and new infrastructure and technology systems that are right for the customer.'

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The Department of Energy and Climate Change is expected to publish its Heat Strategy this Spring.