Domestic Demand-Side Response: The Challenge for Heat Pumps in a Future UK—Decarbonised Heating Market

Abstract

It has become a major point of interest and possible bone of contention that in a future near-decarbonised electricity network, i.e. approaching 100% reduction in emissions by 2050, a low carbon space heating market will be enabled through the deployment of electrically driven heat pumps. It is recognised that such a vision will place a significant extra burden on the existing electricity network. This will be especially true of the low-voltage network at Distribution System Operator level, e.g. 11 kV or below, but as such systems do not operate in isolation, challenges will also be seen at the Transmission Operator level as well. This may be further complicated by the perceived rapid deployment of electric vehicles well before 2050.