Energy Systems Catapult is hosting its Innovating to Net Zero event in February bringing together innovators and experts to explore the most pressing challenges and opportunities of creating and installing clean energy systems. Energy Manager readers are invited to join the discussion and can get a discount using the code below.
On 25 February at Millenium Point in Birmingham, the Catapult, a national centre setup to support UK innovation and growth, is calling together leaders from across the energy system, clean tech innovation, investment and policy communities to discuss:
The need for flexibility in our system, including the installation of energy generation and storage, to effectively address peak gaps in supply and demand.
Perspectives from industry, regulators and local authorities on what’s needed now.
Which technology and policy choices will accelerate decarbonisation without locking in high costs
Innovation insights from real-world trials.
The practical realities of building this flexibility, how it can be incentivised, and why success hinges on user behaviour.
Barriers and incentives for SMEs.
As well as showcasing breakthrough energy solutions from innovators, including practical lessons on technology deployment and opportunities to collaborate, there will be presentations and on-stage discussions with thought leaders from across the energy system supply chain.
This will include Paul McCorquodale, CEO of digital innovator Grid Edge; Cathy McClay, Managing director of National Grid DSO; Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee; Michael Liebreich, managing partner of EcoPragma Capital; and members of the Energy Systems Catapult team whose expertise ranges from local area energy planning and system design to modelling and consumer insights.
Readers of Energy Manager are invited to come and network with innovators and experts, discussing the opportunities available for those who are innovating to Net Zero. Book your ticket using the code ENERGY2026 to get £50 off.
This article appeared in the Jan/Feb 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.
From driveways to rooftops, renewable energy is reshaping how we use electricity, and UK Power Networks is deploying a cutting-edge device to support the adoption of low-carbon technologies on traditional electricity networks.
To help customers adopt clean technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels without delays, UK Power Networks is trialling a new technology that maximises the use of existing low voltage cables rather than build anew.
To tackle this, UK Power Networks has partnered with Ecojoule Energy and Fundamentals to deliver innovation project EcoVAR. The initiative will see five EcoVAR units installed — smart, pole-mounted devices — that keep the network balanced and operating efficiently at the low-voltage level, where most homes and businesses are connected.
TheEcoVAR device helps maximise the use of the existing electricity network, enabling more homes to adopt clean technologies like EVs and solar panels.
The technology works by managing the flow of electricity across the network’s three separate lines, known as phases. Sometimes one phase can become overloaded while others are underused.
The EcoVAR unit automatically redistributes electricity to the quieter lines, helping the network accommodate more clean energy technologies without spending customers’ money on infrastructure where it is not needed. Installed on existing poles, the device can be up and running within hours.
The first unit has been installed in Graveney Bridge, Kent, with data collected during the trial being used to assess how effectively the system improves network efficiency. Each unit is monitored and updated remotely, allowing for smarter management of power flows.
The trial will also test the unit across different weather conditions, helping to ensure that as low-carbon technologies become widespread, electricity networks remain resilient, flexible and ready for the low-carbon future.
Luca Grella, head of innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “Being the first to install this kind of technology in the UK highlights our commitment to working with partners who share our vision for a smarter, more resilient grid. The EcoVAR trial is helping us understand how digital solutions can deliver real improvements for customers at street level.”
Colin Relf, treasurer of Graveney & Goodnestone Village Hall, was delighted the community is part of the trial. He said: “The EcoVAR device has been a godsend. Without it, export was very unreliable, preventing a much-needed income that without it could have ultimately led to the Village Hall closing. It provides peace of mind and security for supplying back onto the grid.”
Ellie Blacklock, Customer Experience Director, Insite Energy
Significant changes to the UK heat network sector are anticipated this year as Ofgem introduces clearer and stricter standards for consumer rights. Heat network operators and heat suppliers will have 12 months to comply by 27th January 2027.
Yet, although we’ve now arrived at the proposed late-January launch date of the new rules, their contents are still under debate. While the overarching aim to improve consistency, transparency and accountability is widely supported across the industry, many feel the framework requires refinement.
The resulting uncertainty is adding to the upheaval. Nevertheless, some things are clear. We know, for example, that complaints handling will be a major focus area of the new regulations. Detailed, time-bound requirements will stipulate how concerns are submitted, tracked, reported and resolved.
New escalation route
This is partly a response to increasing complaints from heat network residents to the Housing Ombudsman, even though the latter has no formal jurisdiction over the sector. Issues such as slow repairs, missed appointments and opaque charging seem widespread. Yet, until recently, residents had nowhere to turn beyond their suppliers’ own internal complaints processes.
That changed in April 2025 when Citizens Advice and Consumer Advice Scotland began providing free advocacy services for heat network consumers. Additionally, where a complaint reaches “deadlock” with their heat supplier after eight weeks, residents will be able to seek resolution via the Energy Ombudsman. This closes a long-standing gap in consumer protection but introduces additional costs for heat network operators and suppliers who will be liable for Ombudsman fees of £250-375 per case referred.
Heavy compliance burden
The pace and scale of regulatory change presents a genuine challenge for heat suppliers and housing providers. Over the past two years, Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have issued numerous consultations, often hundreds of pages each.
For smaller organisations without regulatory expertise or dedicated resources, keeping up is hard. But even big players with established complaints systems will need to introduce new workflows and reporting fields to track issues raised in detail, manage escalations, and produce the granular data Ofgem will require.
Getting ready
Ofgem’s draft authorisation conditions for the Heat Network (Market Framework) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025, alongside forthcoming consumer protection guidance, provide a sensible starting point for organisations reviewing their approach to complaints handling.
One clear requirement is the need to treat heat network complaints separately from general housing issues. That means clear processes, trained teams and systems capable of flagging and categorising concerns accurately.
Some key points to consider include:
Do your existing processes meet Ofgem’s timescales and the Energy Ombudsman’s procedural requirements?
Are systems in place to capture and submit quarterly complaints data to Ofgem?
Can they clearly identify and separate heat network complaints, categorise them by type (as stipulated by Ofgem), and flag those submitted as part of a group complaint?
Is it possible to track outcomes, resolution times and referrals to the Energy Ombudsman?
Do residents, including those in vulnerable situations, have easy access to clear information about complaints procedures and escalation routes?
Can grievances be raised through multiple contact channels without any barriers for vulnerable residents?
Are service partners, such as metering & billing agents and maintenance contractors, aligned with the new requirements?
Do contracts need updating, or would outsourcing complaints management be more effective?
Putting principles into practice
As a service provider supporting more than 40,000 heat network households, Insite Energy shares the government’s commitment to improving outcomes for residents. That’s why, alongside engaging with Ofgem’s consultation process, we’ve been strengthening our internal policies and systems in preparation for the new regime.
We’ve introduced a dedicated Complaints Manager role, bolstered staff training and enhanced tracking processes, with consistent data shared with clients via our in-house VANTAGE portal. For housing providers unable to manage complaints internally, we’re also rolling out a fully managed complaints service, including liaison with the Energy Ombudsman where required.
Ultimately, however, the goal is to prevent complaints arising in the first place. Clear, timely, proactive, scheme-specific communication with residents is critical to this. It helps to build trust and understanding, which are vitally important when dealing with systems as complex as heat networks.
Looking ahead
Processes will likely need to keep evolving as further guidance is issued and the new framework becomes established. What’s already clear, however, is that the era of informal or inconsistent complaints handling is coming to an end. With a statutory advocate, a formal ombudsman route and direct regulatory oversight, getting a grip on grievances is no longer optional. For a practical overview of the emerging regulations, see Insite Energy’s consumer protection guide.
Commercial energy brokerage firm SGT has launched Solar as a Service, a fully financed solar power solution aimed at helping UK businesses reduce energy costs and carbon emissions without upfront capital expenditure.
Delivered through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Solar as a Service enables companies to access clean, renewable electricity from on-site solar installations, fully funded, installed, and maintained by SGT. Businesses pay a guaranteed, fixed price per kilowatt-hour for the electricity generated over a 10-year term, with protection from RPI and wholesale energy price increases.
The model is designed for businesses wanting to decarbonise operations and improve energy resilience without incurring significant upfront costs or entering into long-term lease agreements. There is also no minimum usage commitment.
Andrew King, founder of SGT says, “Solar as a Service removes the barriers that many companies face when considering solar, namely high upfront costs, long ROI periods, and technical complexity. It gives businesses access to renewable energy with full transparency over savings and performance through our dedicated app and web portal.”
SGT also takes full responsibility for the solar system’s operation and maintenance throughout the contract. In the event of a fault or equipment failure under normal use, replacement components are provided at no extra cost, even in the final stages of the agreement.
The service is also compatible with battery storage solutions for businesses seeking to maximise self-consumption and grid independence.
Studies on commercial properties indicate that solar installations can see an uplift in value.
To enquire about Solar as a Service for your business, get in contact with SGT via their website at https://sgt-ltd.co.uk/
Protection technology ensures safe, reliable battery storage for renewables
In the UK, the share of electricity generation from renewable sources during the second quarter of 2025 reached a new record level of 54.5 per cent of all generation, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. But as we shift closer to a net-zero energy system, it becomes critical to have a robust storage solution to harness the energy we produce. Here, Mike Torbitt, managing director of resistor manufacturer Cressall, explores the technology behind battery energy storage systems (BESS).
The Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, introduced in December 2024, looks to ensure that clean sources produce “at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total” and “at least 95 per cent of Great Britain’s generation”. Achieving this will rely on a blend of offshore wind and solar energy deployed at scale.
But this transformation hinges on flexibility. As wind and solar dominate, BESS is becoming the backbone of grid stability, absorbing excess renewable energy and releasing it during demand peaks. Lithium-ion technology leads the way here, comprising 95 per cent of UK BESS projects, thanks to its rapid response and scalability.
The BESS landscape
Higher renewable penetration has driven demand for energy storage. As of September 2025, RenewableUK reports 1,943 active battery storage projects in the UK, with 6.8 gigawatts (GW) of operational capacity — a 509 per cent increase since 2020.
Even larger projects are underway. Tillbridge Solar in Lincolnshire will deliver 1.5 GW of solar PV and three GWh of BESS, while Pembroke Battery in Wales will become the UK’s largest storage facility when construction begins in early 2026.
These assets will provide fast frequency response, peak shaving and renewable firming. Their success, however, depends on safe, reliable integration into medium-voltage (MV) grids. Systems typically connect at 6–36 kV, where grid code compliance, fault studies and earthing design are critical. Without robust protection, the promise of storage could falter under grid physics.
MV challenges
MV grids are fault‑energy rich environments. In solidly earthed MV systems, a single‑line‑to‑ground fault can drive very high currents, imposing severe thermal and mechanical stress on step‑up transformers, converter valves and switchgear.
For BESS, rapid dispatch and high-power flows amplify risks such as inrush currents, transient overvoltages and earth faults escalating in milliseconds, posing compliance and protection challenges under the GB Grid Code. Without controlled earthing, fault magnitudes can exceed clearing times and equipment limits, risking outages and costly repairs.
As grids add high voltage direct current (HVDC) links to ferry offshore wind and remote solar, and as BESS ties into converter stations or MV collectors, abnormal conditions like DC faults reflected into AC neutrals demand predictable neutral behaviour. Limiting ground fault current is essential to maintain converter transformer integrity and prevent cascading trips.
Making BESS safe
This is where neutral earthing resistors (NERs) do the quiet, but crucial work. By inserting a defined resistance between the transformer neutral and earth, an NER limits earth fault current to a level that protection relays can detect and clear selectively, without tripping the entire plant.
NERs prevent transformer insulation damage, reduce arc flash hazards, minimise voltage stress on equipment, enable controlled fault detection and isolation and maintain system stability during fault conditions. Cressall supplies NERs tailored for MV and HV duty in renewables and storage, with engineering guidance that highlights how DC and AC NERs protect converter transformers and maintain system integrity during abnormal events — requirements that map directly to MV‑connected BESS.
Every Cressall NER is designed to IEC and IEEE standards, factory tested under fault current conditions and built with stainless steel elements for outdoor durability. They are rated for continuous operation in harsh environments, ensuring reliability in demanding renewable installations.
In practice, this means fewer catastrophic stresses on transformer windings and converter components, better adherence to grid code protection settings and smoother interconnection approvals.
The UK is reshaping its energy system, but success depends on more than megawatt-hours. Behind every project is a layer of protection technology that keeps the grid stable. As the UK races toward Clean Power 2030, NERs are foundational, turning unpredictable faults into manageable events, making MV-connected BESS bankable and resilient.
A major shift in the UK energy market will now allow small-scale renewable generators – from community solar farms to wind turbines – to sell electricity directly to businesses at scale.
The change, driven by rising demand for direct supply, and enabled by Ofgem and Elexon’s new P442ruling, is set to level the playing field for small clean energy projects competing against big utility corporations.
At the core of this transition is Enosi, a clean-tech innovator, who has just been approved as an Exempt Supply Notification Agent (ESNA). Enosi’sPowertracer platform can accurately track and matchelectricity generated by small-scale projects with customer demand in real-time, while balancing the remaining volumes in the wholesale market.
What this means for the UK’s renewable energy future
A breakthrough for small generators: Until now, direct supply, technically known as licence-exempt supply, was held back by outdated processes that made it costly and complex. Powertracer automates the fine-grained energy matching that regulators require, so small generators can easily sell directly to customers.
Niche to mainstream: License-exempt supplyhas existed for 20 years in the UK, but only as a niche. By enabling accurate, real-time matching of supply and demand across multiple sites, Enosi’s Powertracer turns this into a scalable model, unlocking new value for local energy projects, businesses and communities.
Faster progress on net zero: Local energy projects can get a better price for their electricity – accelerating the growth of clean energy uptake in the UK and supporting businesses looking to hit their sustainability goals.
Cheaper clean energy for businesses: Direct supply does not attract many market levies, cutting costs for both sides. For generators and their direct customers, savings can reach around £60/MWh in non-applicable levies, which can be realised through their energy supplier contracts.
How it works
Matching supply and demand from small projects has always been difficult. Until recently, the industry lacked the technology to distinguish what was truly supplied directly from a small generator.
The key principle is that when the energy produced by these small generators is consumed by their customers at the same time, these supply and demand volumes cancel out in the wholesale energy market. But of course, the supply and demand don’t always match; making it difficult to tease out how much energy was supplied under these direct arrangements.
Enosi’s Powertracer solves this. Built over six years, its “many-to-many” matching engine allows multi-site and multi-source contracts, automates settlement, and submits the results to Elexon’s BSC (Balancing and Settlement Code) Systems. This turns what was once a costly, manual process into one that is scalable, streamlined, and cost-effective.
Evolve Energy is already putting Powertracer to work and is the first supplier to contract with Enosi’s ESNA service – matching small-scale generators with customers’ loads to deliver value on both sides.
Steve Hoy, CEO at Enosi, said: “Enosi is all about making renewable energy accessible to everyone. This initiative makes it easier for small scale generators to find buyers for their energy, and get a better price for it. The other side of the coin is that businesses and communities can now tap into these local generators.
“We’re very pleased to be working with Evolve to continue to support the UK’s renewable energy transition; matching clean energy directly between generators and customers.”
James Hall, COO at Evolve Energy, said: “We’re excited to be entering this new phase in our partnership with Enosi. We’re already seeing the value of Powertracer in our business and their accreditation as an ESNA is the logical extension of the software technology they have built.”
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, reveals its 2026 predictions for the UK’s energy transition as it decarbonises its industries, buildings and power grids. The UK’s net zero economy could be worth up to £1 trillion in by 2030 – around one third of the value of the UK’s economy today – highlighting the major opportunity for growth, innovation and job creation. Electrification is pivotal, but businesses need long term stability and policy clarity to enable them to make investment decisions that shift the UK to a more sustainable future.
Kelly Becker, President at Schneider Electric, UK & Ireland, Belgium & Netherlands shares her thoughts on the top five trends in the coming year that will accelerate the energy transition and impact industrial growth.
1. Threat of increased water shortages will drive real change in future-proofing industry
Increased demand and the threat of climate change make water management one of the biggest challenges for UK industry in 2026. The UK experienced the driest start to the year in nearly four decades in 2025. Meanwhile, data centre operators are accelerating adoption of liquid cooling systems as AI use booms – with 28 planned sites located in areas served by Thames Water alone. Together, these factors are increasing the likelihood and frequency of water shortages – a real threat especially for manufacturers, which use significant amounts.
As scrutiny increases over UK water leakage and failing infrastructure, in 2026 expect to see drastic steps taken by UK industry to modernise water management. Digital technologies not only help conserve water but also reduce the energy required for treatment, distribution, and cooling processes. But water operators and planners still face compatibility challenges with ageing infrastructure. Increased use of software-defined automation – shifting machine intelligence from the hardware layer to the software level – will help to unlock even greater flexibility, efficiency and scalability, meaning plants can scale upgrades more rapidly and effectively.
By prioritising innovation and collaboration, UK industry can turn water management challenges into opportunities for long-term resilience and sustainable growth.
2. Fastest growth cycle of AI infrastructure ever seen in the UK
2026 will usher in the UK’s most rapid phase of digital infrastructure expansion to date. With almost 100 new data centres in the pipeline – representing a 20% increase by 2030 – and major investments from Big Tech giants such as Microsoft and Google, the year ahead is set to mark a decisive shift to high density, AI-first digital capability across the country.
Already the third largest market for data centres globally, planned sites across the UK will signal a shift to smarter and strategically distributed capacity. Scotland will emerge as a key hub thanks to unparallelled access to renewable energy from wind and hydro – part of reshaping the data centre map from surging AI demand – in ways where sovereign compute and clean energy can converge.
This all points to energy at the centre of operational strategy in 2026 – with data centres estimated to drive up to 71 TWh of additional demand over the next 25 years. Focus on diversified, distributed power will increase as regions look to incorporate battery energy storage systems, microgrids, private wire integration and advanced liquid-cooling technologies to meet power demand.
Investment into AI growth zones will drive significant economic expansion, spurring regeneration in local communities and supporting the creation of thousands of jobs in 2026 and beyond.
3. Electrification of UK transport hubs continues to stall
In 2026, the electrification of UK transport will remain a complex challenge. Domestic transport – spanning road, rail, sea and air – accounts for 29% of harmful emissions in the UK. The solution lies in electrifying operations at the UK’s ports and airports, while providing an expansive and reliable, nationwide charging network for EVs.
The UK’s ports can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions and providing a more sustainable power network by becoming hubs capable of producing their own renewable energy, equipped to charge electric vessels. Schneider Electric is already working with UK ports to establish green shipping corridors and decarbonise operations. These models can be replicated across other transport hubs, laying the groundwork for a broader transition to cleaner transport.
But the Government needs to provide clearer direction on its transport decarbonisation targets and actively support new energy use cases and the growing charging infrastructure supply chain. Persistent issues related to accessing grid connections and securing planning permission for new microgrids will continue to slow the momentum of the UK’s energy transition. Despite these challenges, significant moves in building out essential infrastructure will continue into 2026.
4. Electrification and digitalisation will recharge UK industry
The UK Government’s 2025 Industrial Strategy marked an important policy milestone, acknowledging energy costs as a key barrier to UK industrial growth.
In 2026 we’ll see this translate into action, with measures such as increasing the discount on electricity network charges for energy-intensive industries helping to bolster UK industrial competitiveness. National Grid’s £35 billion investment from 2026 through to 2031 sparks a transformative step toward urgent electricity grid upgrades – critical to meeting increased demand as more sectors electrify their operations. Carefully managed upgrades will add resilience to the grid, secure energy independence and bring down the cost of electricity.
Meanwhile, technologies like software-defined automation, edge computing, and industrial AI can lead to measurable gains in productivity, efficiency, safety and sustainability – setting new benchmarks. In 2026, the real differentiator for UK industry will be the strategic selection of scalable and fit-for-context technologies, facilitated by trusted partners who can simplify integration and execution.
Together, electrification and digitalisation will be the twin engines powering UK industry’s next phase of growth and competitiveness. This is reflected by our own study that shows Europe can save €250 billion per year by 2040 through accelerated electrification.
5. Digitally enabled and energy efficient buildings will cut UK emissions
In 2026, a massive overhaul of UK buildings will become a defining force in achieving the UK’s net zero ambitions. With buildings currently responsible for around 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions, the pressure to transform commercial and industrial spaces will intensify. We anticipate a surge in digitalisation and energy efficiency measures as businesses respond to persistent high energy prices.
Digital monitoring tools connected to IOT sensors will become more widely adopted, empowering building operators to monitor and optimise energy use, occupancy, and environmental conditions in real time, in new and existing buildings. Increased use of AI to create energy efficiencies – such as dynamically adjusting lighting, temperature, and air quality based on occupancy and external weather patterns – will also help to cut costs and emissions.
The future of UK buildings points to a new era: intelligent, adaptable, and electrified spaces that actively support a low-carbon energy system. 2026 is poised to be the year when digitalisation moves from optional to essential. Expect more businesses to unlock the potential of smart technologies, recognising their critical role in driving energy efficiency, enabling decarbonisation, and delivering annual energy savings – predicted to reach £650 million per year in the public sector alone by 2037.
Rinnai’s N series range of continuous flow water heaters have been installed by Midlands-based Aquagas at the newly refurbished training ground of Coventry City FC.
The new installation consists of five Rinnai N 1600i capable of delivering nearly 5000 litres per hour of temperature accurate hot water flexible flue configuration; cascade frame to streamline installation; Nexus by Aquabion water treatment to ensure lifetime system efficiency & all supported by market leading warranties.
This innovative system was designed to replace a floor standing 2000L stored heated water configuration. As the inherent nature of the Rinnai instant water heaters is to modulate the gaseous fuel input relative to the system demand Coventry City F can expect significant energy savings from this upgrade.
Ollie Quiney commented for Aquagas, “the site is undergoing a rolling series of works to improve all facilities – including the provision of plentiful amounts of hot water for laundry, showers, personal hygiene and all other usual uses.
“The installation is an integral part of a massive investment scheme to upgrade the sky blues Ryton training ground, where the championship club has trained since the early 1960s.
“Our firm has almost 20 years’ experience of installing and servicing both residential and commercial gas fired heating & hot water systems. We take pride in our work with customer satisfaction being the number one aim.”
Speaking on behalf of Rinnai client support specialist Justin Allen commented “working with Aquagas is always a pleasure and we are confident that not only will the Rinnai system provide copious amounts of hot water for the varied ablutions – it will also result in significant cost savings for Coventry City FC.”
The Rinnai N series is one of the best-selling products of its kind with millions of installations globally. Rinnai’s N series is designed to ensure reliable hot water delivery for commercial applications that require limitless loads of hot water, like Coventry City FC.
Rinnai support product excellence with design support such as capital, operational expenditure and carbon modelling to ensure that cost and carbon savings can be realised. Coventry City is another high-profile sports facility that has adopted Rinnai technology to improve performance and lower costs.
In addition to the reliable hot water and energy savings, football clubs and sports facilities integrating Rinnai can benefit from a range of practical advantages tailored to the demands of modern high-performance facilities.
Rinnai’s advanced continuous flow water heaters deliver rapid recovery, ensuring that players, staff and visitors always have access to hot water, even during peak usage periods such as back-to-back training sessions.
The modular design of the Rinnai specification allows for scalability and optimisation with minimal disruption. Furthermore, the robust construction and market leading warranties guarantee long last performance.
RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY
Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants, and end users a range of efficient, robust, and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic, and technically feasible solutions.
Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.
RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY of ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS-
Chris Goggin continues his review of the heating and hot water markets across the European landscape. This analysis of how commercial and domestic properties seek to provide heating and hot water can reveal the rate of introduction in terms low carbon energies. Insights into the impact of Net Zero legislation can be made as can a preferred technology.
European heating and hot water provision for domestic and commercial properties is adapting to recent climate pledges introduced by the EU. The European block is mandated by law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 and at least by 55% by 2030. The European Union is optimistic in achieving these targets.
France and Germany are predominant economies that rest inside of EU borders and will be the focus of this article. Both countries face the identical task of decarbonisation yet must travel entirely separate pathways to introduce clean energies and technologies.
French domestic energy policy is dictated by a decision to employ nuclear power. The Messmer Plan was a solution to the 1973 oil embargo which saw Arab countries refusing to export oil and gas to any country that supported Israel in the Yom Kippur war.
France was reliant on foreign exports of oil which accounted for over 70% of national power supply. The Messmer Plan was introduced in 1974 and has since been responsible for the construction of eighteen commercial nuclear power plants with fifty-six nuclear reactors.
France provides for a housing stock of around 38.2 million dwellings and although the predominant form of power relayed into domestic and commercial properties is nuclear powered electricity, other forms of power and technologies are being utilised to fuel commerce and domestic heating and hot water supply.
French use of domestic solar power is increasing steadily, including self-consumption capacity which accounts for 35% of new installations. Self-consumption refers to an energy source that is individually generated and not connected to a national grid. In 2024 France installed near to 240,000 solar systems domestic as well as C&I (commercial and industrial) systems, 33,000 more than the previous year 2023. At this moment, the French solar power market can be characterised as being diverse and robust.
However, 11.9 million households rely on gas boilers for DHW and heating whilst there is also a total stock of 4.3 million installed heat pumps. Throughout 2022 around 620,000 heat pumps were sold in France – a 16% increase from 2021.
However, the European heat pump market has entered a less productive phase. The IEA Global Energy Review 2025 reports of a decline in heat pump sales across Europe most notably in France and Germany. European sales are down 21% whilst French purchases have been estimated to have suffered a drop of 25%.
The contributing factors to this have been outlined as high electrical costs relative towards natural gas, political and regulatory uncertainty, and a slowdown in new construction projects, itself a reflection of global economic uncertainty.
France makes up one part of the three largest heat pump markets in Europe the other two being Italy and Germany. This article will now focus on Germany and revisit Italy later in this series of domestic and commercial DHW and building heat market analysis.
Recent German energy policy is based solely around the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before Russia entered Ukraine, Germany imported a third of national oil, 45% of their coal and 55% of all gas from Russia. Since the invasion, Germany has resolved to diversify domestic energy options with the direct aim of strengthening national energy security.
This approach involves extracting clean renewable energy like wind and solar and introducing other alternative methods of distributing heat as well as hot water to domestic and commercial properties. These alternatives include heat pumps, district heating, biomass, and solar systems.
Germany maintains a residential housing stock of around forty million homes and an additional twenty-one million non-residential buildings. With such a vast number of properties that stretch across both rural and urban areas Germany has to offer multiple routes of clean and affordable power to customers. A primary route of domestic and commercial power is heating pumps.
Although Germany is one of the largest global heat pumps markets German heat pump sales are estimated to be 46% down in 2024, again due to economic and regulatory reasons. German heat pump sales in 2024 amounted to 193,000 compared to 356,000 purchased and installed in 2023.
As of 2022 there was a total heat pump stock of 1,674,000. Although numbers have not been officially released or statistically recorded basic additional mathematics reveals a total number of over two million active heat pump units across German business properties and dwellings. Per one thousand German inhabitants there are twenty installed heat pumps.
Germany is also in the process of phasing out nuclear power contradicting the position that France has taken whilst nineteen million households use a gas boiler for heating and hot water. Commercial and industrial premises are estimated to be responsible for 34% of natural gas use across Germany.
Meanwhile, German use of solar power has become a leading source of power for households and businesses. Germany leads Europe in total installed capacity of solar capacity and solar PV expansion in 2024. As of April 2025, Germany has installed over five million solar PV installations. Domiciles make up 38% of this statistic whilst 29% have been installed on commercial rooftops.
Germany’s other alternative means of heating arrives in the form of district heating. Germany has 6,000 operational district heating systems that amount to 25GW of capacity. District heating consists of a configuration of underfloor piping accessed by multiple buildings. These pipes are then heated using either steam or water which is itself produced by waste heat from power stations, industrial processes, biomass or by capturing heat from geothermal and solar resources.
Finally, biomass has become a recognised aspect of German heat and hot water provision. Statista have published official numbers of active German biomass plants from November 2024 – 15,868. Biomass refers to a facility that generates electricity through the burning of organic materials (waste from households, industry & organic matter) to produce steam. This steam powers a turbine that is connected to generators which then offers electricity.
Both Germany and France are legally bound to lessen emissions that emanate from households and commercial activities. Both countries have separate domestic energy policies that are resultant of individual national requirements. Each country is now pursuing decarbonising pathways that are solutions to the obstacles relevant to themselves only.
An umbrella approach to European carbon neutrality is not feasible due to differing populations sizes, building stock, geographical position, and geopolitical relationships. This is reflected in the entirely different approach adopted by both France and Germany.
Rinnai is continuing to provide UK contractors, consultants, specifiers, and installers with updated information on global energy issues. Doing so aims to equip all interested parties with knowledge that will provide a concise comprehension of international fuel options and approaches as well as an insight into potential future UK energy options and technologies.
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UK Power Networks has invested more than £8 billion in its electricity networks since 2011, with the latest project being completed to benefit Hackney and Walthamstow.
More than 30,000 people in Hackney and North London will benefit from upgraded energy supplies following the completion of an electricity project from UK Power Networks.
The project, which began in July 2017, required the installation of 22km of cable and ducting, across four new circuits, and the final circuit was energised in November.
The new infrastructure will benefit more than 30,000 homes in Hackney and Walthamstow, paving the way for Electric Vehicles, heat pumps, and a greener future.
Errol Lord, project manager at UK Power Networks said: “This initiative represents a significant investment in Hackney’s energy infrastructure and underscores our unwavering commitment to the local community.
“The project was meticulously designed not only to enhance network resilience but also to meet the burgeoning demands of both residents and businesses in the area. The upgrade infrastructure will provide more reliable and sustainable energy to homes, schools, and local services.
“Throughout the duration of the works, we have maintained close collaboration with the community to minimise disruption and ensure everybody knew what was happening. We are grateful for the patience and understanding demonstrated by the residents, and we take pride in the collective effort that has brought this project to fruition.”
Teams working on the project included Alliance partner Clancy, D&R Jointing and Enigma Scaffolding as well as UK Power Networks’ office and field staff.
