WP1. The cooling challenge
In the UK, major changes in cooling demand are expected due to temperature rise. It is thus important to understand better how the cooling demand of different consumer types will be affected. In this WP, the evolving nature of cooling (and heating) needs in a warming world will be considered to elucidate how a local energy system should change to meet changing energy demands. Investigating this baseline for cooling in the UK represents key foundation work.
WP1.1 Understanding cooling demand.
WP1.2 Modelling cooling demand.
WP2. Technologies for cooling
Cooling supply technology in the UK is mostly deployed for commercial or industrial needs. Understanding the implications of adopting cooling systems at household or community level, and even using individual heating systems such as reversible heat pumps to provide cooling services as we move towards future electrified heating, is thus highly relevant as cooling demand is expected to increase. At the same time, examining the role of storage to improve the performance of a cooling system whilst meeting consumer demand and to provide flexibility services (e.g. peak demand reduction, load shifting) is of significant value.
Consumers defined in WP1 and their prospective future cooling demand profiles will be adopted. In addition to simulation-based work, a novel assessment of public acceptability of cooling technology (including storage at household level) and of the current policy/governance status of thermal storage and the potential implications of storage and the flexibility provision from cooling systems into electricity networks will be conducted.
WP2.1 Social acceptability towards
cooling technology.
WP2.2 Modelling and design of cooling
supply technologies, including storage.
WP3. Infrastructure needs for cooling in small urban communities
Increasing needs for air conditioning, refrigeration and cooling appliances will not only require the adoption of cooling technology at individual premises, but also the conception of wider cooling systems beyond a single user so as to integrate different consumers and cooling loads through an interconnected hydraulic network (considering energy storage, pipes, pumps, control valves and heat exchangers).
Focus will be placed on small urban communities in Wales, for which we have access to energy demand data, to build on the work from WP1. Alongside the technical and financial specification for prospective cooling networks, consumer participation in cooling and implications for current UK energy policy are considered.
WP3.1 Public values, attitudes and
acceptability of cooling networks.
WP3.2 Simulation of community level
cooling systems
WP4. Interdependencies of cooling with heating and electricity systems
This WP will investigate the impacts of cooling demand on electricity infrastructure and how this could link to demand change associated with heat decarbonisation and policy makers’ perceptions associated with cooling.
Models, parameters and design considerations from WP2-3 will be adopted.
WP4.1 Optimal scheduling of energy
systems with thermal energy storage.
WP4.2 Provision of grid services using
thermal energy storage.
WP4.3 Policy maker perceptions of
cooling and building decarbonisation.
WP5. Project synthesis and policy impact
In light of the project’s inter-disciplinary nature, this is an overarching WP providing an integrative function. This will be achieved by pulling project threads together and delivering impact activities.
The WP will synthesise results to consider the relationship between heat, cooling, storage and decarbonisation in the UK and relevant policy/governance implications.
It will also provide policy relevant briefings covering key project outputs.