Just in July, a webinar was organised by BSRIA on “District Heating and Heat Interface Unit Review.” The webinar opened with introduction by Socrates Christidis, BSRIA Research Manager, Heating & Renewables, being the panel spokesperson highlighting the key ingredients about HIU history, market status, and size saying: European HIUs market reached some 300 thousand units in 2019. The discussion revolved upon District Heating and Cooling (DHC) networks; fifth generation of DTH unit (dekatherm), and the ramification as to how COVID-19 affected the HIU market.
Socrates Christidis gave details about the emerging challenges like, climate crisis, urbanisation, green gas emission, poorly insulated existing homes, banning of domestic boiler, increased demand and COVID-19, etc. He emphasised upon changes that need to happen and lot of tough decisions to be made for our future. Christidis explained, HIU is a packaged set of components necessary to connect a consumer’s heating and cooling unit or hot water system to the heat network. It links in to a district or communal heat network in place of boiler, which is suitable for future of low carbon buildings.
Speaking on benefits, he said, HIUs are usually installed with heat meters, giving both flat owners and occupiers the advantage of being able to control their heating use and to have precise information about the amount of heat used, hence the right billing. Today Heat Interface Units (HIUs) are sold in many European countries. They offer advantages over individual gas boilers as they do not require annual gas inspections. They can be installed with any source of heating, including renewable heating sources.
He highlighted, HIU types available are cooling only, heating and cooling and hybrid. District heating and cooling is one of the three pathways for decarbonisation of heating viz., electrification, green gas, DHC. Also, there is no fix definition for 5th generation DTH. However, demand driven and low temperatures are two main pointers. He observed, because of the lockdown, no construction site is open; there is no work or no new order for Q2, 2020, also, the programs are postponed. Moreover, COVID-19 has impacted 15-30% downfall in the market.
Socrates, concluded webinar stating that HIUs as a simple package, provide heating, and supply hot water in a flat. It also provides us with more options like cooling and hybrid solution. District heating and cooling is growing and developing but conventional source will still be in use for high temperature networks. He opined COVID-19 is a short term threat. The diversification of product offering will keep HIUs as relevant, as heating and cooling market stands to revolutionize rapidly in the next decade.
