Decarbonising heat with heat pumps

Chief Investigators

A/Prof Andrea Trianni (UTS)  

Brendan Vos (A2EP)

Purpose of project

The project will identify and assess how heat decarbonisation can be accelerated in Australia, through addressing one of the known priorities identified in the Electrification and renewables to displace fossil fuel process heating (B3 Opportunity Assessment). These include: 

• Developing technical and commercial case studies and potential demonstration projects to increase confidence in renewable heat technologies and improved industry engagement,   
• Investigating barriers and potentially demonstrate project implementation under the energy savings schemes such as the NSW Energy Savings Scheme, showcasing sustainable and replicable financing opportunities 
• Supercharging existing modelling tools
• Conducting further research into refrigerants to fill the critical knowledge gaps required to support the transition to zero carbon heat 
• Conducting research to inform future policy making 
• Reducing barriers to access and use of un-tapped renewable heat sources, through the investigation of barriers to uptake of existing energy savings schemes. 

Work packages

• 6 case studies and 2 videos of successful heat decarbonisation projects, including 4 sites from the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Industrial Decarbonisation Initiative (GIDI) program and 2 sites in Australia  
• Report for utilities, policy makers and regulators on product development for widespread deployment of heat decarbonisation 
• A roadmap to assist “heat pump ready” C&I sectors to decarbonise heat 
• Guidance on data capture, storage and analytical method for renewable heat deployment, including links to white certificate schemes (ESCs, VEECs, ACCUs) 
• Enhancement of existing online A2EP heat pump tool, with customised options for meat and dairy processing, commercial buildings and aquatic centres 
• C&I Refrigerant Guide for stationary air conditioning, mobile air conditioning, refrigerated cold food chain and domestic refrigeration. 

Impact of project

The expected impact is increased confidence in renewable heat technologies and improved industry engagement, which will lead to increased uptake of heat decarbonisation technologies such as heat pumps.  

Project partners – industry and research

UTS (Lead),  AGL Energy Services Pty Limited, Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity Limited (A2EP), Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd (AMPC), ASED Consulting International, Department of Planning and Environment (NSW), DETA Consulting, Energetics, Exergenics, Hardwick Meats, Minus 40, Northmore Gordon, RMIT, The Expert Group

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