New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
The heat generated from cooling data servers, among other low-carbon technologies, is being used to warm the homes of social housing tenants in a government-funded trial project in south-east England. The project is providing access to cutting-edge technology that would normally cost thousands to eligible tenants at no cost, writes Jon Cape, Managing Director of Power Circle Projects.
Currently, only the top 20% of UK households can afford to retrofit their homes. However, SHIELD (Smart Heat and Intelligent Energy in Low-Income Districts) is empowering customers to generate their own electricity, store it and reduce their heating costs.
The scheme aims to combat fuel poverty among low-income and vulnerable households. Through SHIELD, low-income households could cut their energy bills by 40% or more, based on current modelling using Ofgem TDCV (typical domestic consumption value) assumptions.
SHIELD involves utilising a social enterprise energy services company (ESCo) that can develop, install and operate low-carbon energy systems on behalf of social landlords and homeowners, as well as aggregate these systems to secure low-cost finance from institutional funders.