OVO Energy is committed to hitting its net zero carbon target by 2035 and that focus is clearer than ever. With transport accounting for 24%[1] of the UK’s yearly emissions, it’s already helping electrify transport across the country. A growing EV fleet and e-bike rideshare scheme lead the charge, proving what’s possible now, while the world’s largest domestic Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) trial gives us a glimpse into the future – rewarding customers for their help balancing the grid at peak times.
But beyond the way we move, our homes remain the highest contributor to UK greenhouse gases – the way we heat our homes alone accounts for 17%[2] of the UK’s carbon emissions. The electrification of heat is therefore a vitally important part of our cleaner, greener future, and a core reason why OVO Energy is embarking on its latest trial.
Partnering with tepeo and UK Power Networks, it’s pioneering a brand-new trial to evaluate the role of Zero Emission Boilers (ZEB) in the home. The trial will provide OVO Energy customers with a tepeo ZEB, to help move customers away from gas and towards a greener future.
We were keen to find out more about how this trial will work in the real world, what home modifications, if any, it might involve and how you can take part.
Get involved in OVO Energy’s Neat Heat trial
NEAT TRICK
It’s estimated that up to 54%[3] of the 22.7 million UK homes using gas lack the space needed for alternative low carbon solutions. But with no outside space needed and a typical installation of 1-2 days with no need to change existing radiators, it can be easily integrated within most UK homes[4], providing more opportunities than ever.
This 12-month trial is a chance for OVO and its partners to test an alternative solution for those households that have, as yet, been unable to benefit from zero emission heating. In OVO’s words, “seeing if Zero Emission Boilers can help shape the future of home heating on a bigger scale.”
The premise of a ZEB is simple: it works as a thermal battery, so you can charge it when electricity is at its cheapest and use it to heat your home when you want, all while lowering your carbon footprint.
As with so many home eco-technologies currently in development, the trick to the Zero Emission Boiler lies in its sophisticated ‘brain’. The ZEB’s intelligent charging algorithm looks at your tariff, the weather, the grid carbon intensity and how much heat your home uses to automatically charge up. It then releases that heat into your home (for heating or hot water) when your thermostat calls for it – keeping running costs and carbon low, while avoiding wasted heat.
NEAT RATE
The ZEB works with any of your home energy plans, but to maximise on the big benefits, OVO Energy is combining the system with its Neat Heat bolt-on which provides participants with what OVO calls ‘Neat Heat credits’. That’s the lowest possible energy rate on your boiler usage.
The ZEB simply charges when it needs to, and you get Neat Heat credits for that consumption. If for example, you have a sizable space, and you’re heating your home 10 hours a day, you would get 10 hours of charging at 12p per kWh[5].
But how does that all work in practice? Well, the payment journey is divided into three steps: each month, OVO will charge you at your standard rate for your home’s electricity use. It will then check how much electricity your ZEB has been using throughout the month to charge itself. The final step then involves adding those ‘Neat Heat credits’ to your next bill – thereby deducting any costs above that lowest possible rate. Simple.
WHERE DO I SIGN UP?
If you’ve been reading this wondering how and when you can get involved, you’re in luck. OVO Energy is still looking for candidates to get involved but you will need to meet certain criteria.
To begin with, OVO’s Neat Heat trial will only be available in the area covered by UK Power Networks – that’s most of London, the East and South East of England. Homes will also need to have an annual heat demand of less than 12,000kWhs and a heating system with a separate hot water tank.
You will need a specific smart meter opted in to half hourly reads or agree to have one installed with that function. This is to help OVO Energy analyse the data and better understand how Zero Emission Boiler systems work on a case-by-case basis used by varying individuals in the real world.
You will also need to be opted in to OVO Energy’s variable rate energy plan which benefits from a rolling monthly contract and supreme flexibility. The final checkboxes are a basic internet connection and a hot water cylinder.
With home heating playing such a sizable role in our carbon output, the transition to low carbon heating is as critical as it is inevitable. But true to form, OVO Energy is practising what it preaches, moving from concepts to real-world trials in a bid to demonstrate exactly how this technology can work for us in the real world and the potential that lies ahead. OVO Energy’s Plan Zero target grows ever closer and our hopes for a cleaner future, more realistic than ever.
[1] According to https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-and-environment-statistics-2022/transport-and-environment-statistics-2022#:~:text=Transport%20produced%2024%25%20of%20the,road%20vehicles%20(89%20MtCO2e%20). (2020)
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-heating-consumer-protection-to-come-under-scrutiny#:~:text=Heating%20millions%20of%20homes%20across,help%20reduce%20their%20carbon%20footprint
[3] https://www.eua.org.uk/without-a-choice-of-different-heat-technologies-for-uk-housing-stock-decarbonisation-of-heat-will-fail-says-new-eua-report/
[4] The ZEB is only suitable12-month/cost effective for homes up to a heat demand of 12,000kWhs
[5] Boosting in addition to the ZEB's calculated charge quantity is at 12p/kWh for the first boost and standard rate for subsequent boosts.