City Science has secured innovation funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to move forward with Phase Two of the Heat Pump Ready Programme funded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP). This comes after City Science successfully ran two feasibility studies exploring high-density heat pump deployment in two UK regions last year.
The City Science team will work on the ground with partners to facilitate the roll-out of heat pumps - a key solution for decarbonising heat in homes. They will use the two innovative methodologies developed during Phase One of the programme, applying one in North West Bicester, Oxfordshire and the other in Fenland, Cambridgeshire.
The methodologies City Science developed consider the technology and wider consumer offering, a mapping of expected customer journeys, branding and marketing strategies including a plan for deep, localised engagement, and innovative financing options.
In Cambridgeshire, City Science will be working in rural environments with Cambridgeshire County Council, Fenland District Council, Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), Growth Guides and Lendology. In Oxfordshire, City Science will be working in more suburban environments with project partners Oxfordshire County Council, National Energy Foundation, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks, Growth Guides, Trust Mark and Lendology.
City Science CEO Laurence Oakes-Ash commented on the appointments:
“Heating in domestic buildings is a major source of carbon emissions and one where we are currently not seeing a decline. To have any chance of reaching the UK’s commitment of Net Zero by 2050, an uptake in heat pumps is essential because they typically reduce carbon emissions from heating by 80%. However, we know there are considerable barriers to their adoption by homeowners. With the HPR project, we will be looking to help the government make the transition to net zero affordable and achievable for all, by reducing costs to consumers and minimising barriers to uptake.”
To learn more about our work on heat pump adoption, email info@cityscience.com