Atamate Blog

Direct electric space and water heating can replace the need for ‘wet’ central heating in a well-insulated flat. Fast-response heaters automated by a control system are inexpensive to install, avoid the overheating risk inherent to wet heating, and meet or exceed the efficiency of electricity augmented by...

The British government’s hydrogen strategy calls for a massive expansion in hydrogen production and evaluation of whether it can replace natural gas as the major energy source in the building sector. However, the available evidence suggests that the infrastructural investment would be better directed toward...

Because fifth-generation heat networks use disseminated power sources, they can make use of air, ground or water-source heat pumps even if heat pumps alone cannot heat water to the required flow temperature. To be cost-effective, heat pumps are likely to need local waste heat sources.

Air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) are widely promoted as a source of low-cost, low-carbon space and water heating. However, a model of ASHP-powered heating in London shows that they compare unfavourably to heating derived directly from mains electricity, especially when compared to real-world data from flats using...

Fifth-generation heat network technology uses disseminated energy sources and low flow temperatures, enabling utilisation of multiple waste heat sources and limiting heat energy lost from piping. It may make heat networks efficient enough for some apartment blocks although heat networks need to be regulated to...

Given the recent rise in gas prices and the UK government’s stated aim of making all newly built homes ‘zero-carbon ready’ by 2025, the need to move away from using gas to heat and produce hot water for domestic properties has been brought into focus.

One of the technologies that is seen as an alternative to a gas...

This winter’s hike in international natural gas prices will lead to heating price hikes this winter. It exposes the vulnerability of Britain’s dependence on imported gas, both for heating homes and for generating electricity, and illustrates the importance of initiatives to replace gas heating systems.

If you’ve looked at the news recently, you’ll have seen dire reports of soaring gas prices and dire predictions of either a very expensive or a very cold winter ahead.

Yesterday, the government announced a £450 million boiler upgrade scheme, offering £5,000 grants for households replacing gas-boilers with low-carbon heating systems. The scheme does not specify what low-carbon system should be used although it repeatedly refers to air-source heat pumps.

Standards for space heaters are governed by several European Union standards that remain in place in Britain including Regulation 2015/1188, often called Lot 20, which sets minimum standards for energy efficiency and emissions that all heaters powered by electricity, gas or oil must meet.