Low-carbon housing project launched by University of Hull and Hull City Council

A glimpse into the future of low-carbon housing will be shown by a new partnership between the University of Hull and Hull City Council.

Energy and sustainability experts at the university will work alongside the council to develop a project to demonstrate at full scale the potential of new technology designed to decarbonise the heating of homes.

Hull City Council will provide a residential property for the university team to trial its low-carbon heating technology.

Data on heating and energy use within the house will be monitored and recorded over a year to fully analyse its effectiveness and affordability.

If the pilot project is successful, it is hoped the technology could be commercialised and rolled out to homes across Hull and beyond.

The university's Prof Xudong Zhao, a globally recognised energy researcher, said: “This project will be the first time this technology, which we hope will become an exemplar for the decarbonisation of our homes, will be demonstrated at full scale.

“Addressing the issue of decarbonising heating in the home is urgent to meet the UK target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and Hull City Council’s ambitions to reach those same targets by 2030.

“This new project, working alongside Hull City Council, will provide us with a glimpse into the future of low-carbon, sustainable housing. It has the potential to be truly groundbreaking.”

Low-carbon heating systems are still in a probation stage, and represent just two per cent of the overall heating market in the UK.

This pilot project will put Hull at the forefront of the UK’s low-carbon heating push, said Councillor Daren Hale, Deputy Leader of Hull City Council.

“Hull City Council has set the ambitious and achievable target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030," said Cllr Hale. "If we are to reach that goal, projects such as this one from the university alongside the council will be vital.

“These systems currently make up a fraction of the overall heating market in the UK, but this partnership between the council and the university could change that, which would be huge for the country’s zero-carbon goals.

“It demonstrates that the council is working hard alongside its major partner organisations to tackle climate change.”

The new project between the University and Hull City Council was announced at the Waterline Summit this week.

Learn more about the project here.