New trade association launched: Thermal Storage UK

We are delighted to join Thermal Storage UK as a founding member.

This new trade association has been established to promote the use of thermal storage in buildings in the United Kingdom and other countries to achieve net zero. The mission is to take the carbon out of heating buildings.

Thermal Storage UK is led by Tom Lowe, who has previously worked at Bulb, Ofgem and British Gas amongst other companies in the energy sector since 2010. We are delighted to have him onboard at Thermal Storage UK alongside the three founding members – Tepeo, Caldera and Sunamp.

23% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from heating buildings, which is still dominated by the burning of fossil fuels. The electrification of heat is expected to play a key role in decarbonising the sector and allowing the country to reach net zero. All three founding members provide innovative thermal storage solutions to tackle the challenge of low carbon heating in an increasingly dynamic electricity system.

As the UK brings more renewable generation online, we will need flexible storage to help balance a more dynamic electricity system.

“The UK needs to speed up the removal of carbon from the heating of buildings. Thermal storage can support renewables, lower carbon emissions and reduce bills. Great British companies are leading the world on thermal storage. Now is the time to electrify heating and reduce fossil fuel imports” said Lowe at the launch of Thermal Storage UK. “As winter electricity demand could quadruple by 2050, this requires more flexibility. Thermal storage has a big role to play, we expect the UK government to respond by working with us towards a strong policy framework for the technology helping set global standards. Thermal storage for hot water, space heating and cooling is a key element for decarbonising buildings in the UK and around the globe.”

At tepeo, we’re working hard to install our Zero Emission Boiler (ZEB®) as both a low carbon heating system and an integral part of the energy system of the future – with the ability to dynamically adjust how much and when the ZEB charges based on energy pricing, carbon intensity and grid constraints.

Having a clear voice for thermal storage is an important step in bringing products like the ZEB into the mainstream – supported by policy, industry and partners as these technologies develop.

Johan du Plessis, CEO of Tepeo, said: “It’s great to see Thermal Storage UK go from concept to launch so quickly. Easily-installed, affordable thermal storage coupled with smart time of use tariffs will be an essential part of decarbonising heat and provide enormous flexibility to enable the energy system of the future.”

James Macnaghten, CEO of Caldera, said: “We are excited about the launch of Thermal Storage UK. Thermal storage has a major role to play in taking the carbon out of heating buildings, not least for those using expensive heating oil and LPG.”

Andrew Bissell, CEO of Sunamp, said: “As CEO of one of the world’s leading thermal battery companies, with over 20,000 made, shipped and installed, I welcome today’s launch of Thermal Storage UK. This will strengthen the UK’s already leading role in this fast growing global market, in which we are aiming to sell more than 1 million units per year later this decade. We expect the UK government to respond by working with us towards a strong policy framework for the technology helping set global standards. Thermal storage for hot water, space heating and cooling is a key element for decarbonising buildings in the UK and around the globe.”


Notes to Editors:

tepeo is tackling the UK’s biggest challenge to achieving its Net Zero target: rapid and low cost decarbonisation of domestic heating. Our invention, the ZEB (Zero Emission Boiler), is a low carbon, cost effective plug ‘n’ play replacement for a fossil fuel boiler. It combines electric heating with ultra-high density dry core thermal storage to deliver the performance of a fossil fuel boiler without the associated emissions. The ZEB’s flexibility also supports self-consumption of renewables and supports balancing of the electricity grid.

The ZEB is regularly featured on the popular low-carbon technology Youtube channel ‘Fully Charged’. It has won awards such as the EDF Pulse Innovation Challenge 2020 and was runner-up Innovation of the Year in the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards 2021.

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