Exploring the potential of heat as a service in decarbonization: Evidence needs and research gaps

ABSTRACT

The need to accelerate the decarbonization of heating, as well as the rise of the ‘smart home’, mean that there is an increasing focus on the role of innovative consumer offerings in driving the shift to zero carbon domestic heating. In this context, Heat as a Service (HaaS) business models, which provide consumers with an agreed heating plan rather than simply paying for units of fuel, are receiving increased attention. This paper explores HaaS based on insights from facilitated group discussions with key stakeholders, and learning from HaaS trials, in the United Kingdom. Results identified evidence needs and research gaps related to: addressing issues of trust between consumers and suppliers, supportive policies, financing business models, and openness and interoperability of technology and data. Based on the findings, we propose policy and research recommendations to better understand the role of HaaS business models in decarbonization.

KEYWORDS:

• Heat as a Service
• heat decarbonization
• energy services
• evidence needs
• smart heating

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the IVUGER project (Increasing Visibility of Underrepresented Groups in Energy Research) and the UKERC Whole Systems Networking Fund. Thanks also to Sarah Royston who took part in the initial conceptualisation of the project and the early stage literature review. We’re very grateful to the participants in the workshop, in particular Citizens Advice, Bristol Energy and the Energy Systems Catapult, who shared their experiences and expertise.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

¹ Sometimes referred to as final services or capabilities.

² Search performed in Scopus, using query: TITLE-ABS-KEY (”heat as a service” OR ”heat-as-a-service”)

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the IVUGER network, funded by the UK Energy Research Centre Whole Systems Network Fund under Grant [EP/R007071/1]. Jess Britton was supported by an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship [ES/T00858X/1].  Angela Mae Minas is a member of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) funded by ESRC [ES/S012257/1]. Zoya Pourmirza was supported by Active Building Centre (ABC) funded by Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund under Programme Grant EP/S016627/1. Ana Catarina Marques was supported by project GreenSCIES 2 funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund on Prospering From the Energy Revolution, grant 37561; Economic and Social Research Council [ES/T00858X/1];Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/S016627/1]; Innovate UK [37561];