Future Role of Gas? The Rinnai Survey Says...

Rinnai Director Chris Goggin presents the results of a representational survey of HVAC industry consultants & contractors on the subject of “The Future Role of Gas in UK Heating and Hot Water.” From this survey are findings on current confidence - or lack off – on the role of Natural Gas regarding future technologies and practises.

Rinnai has conducted a survey asking industry professionals a series of questions with multi-choice responses on “The Future Role of Gas in UK Heating and Hot Water.”

The key extrapolations made from this survey reveals that there is a reluctance or uncertainty to fully ignore natural gas as a primary source of UK energy. The reasons for uncertainty were not probed in this survey but can be reasonably assumed when analysing the current conditions of the domestic and global energy markets.

A main influence in the energy industry that could be attributed towards a feeling of uncertainty is cost. UK customers appear to trust natural gas and accompanying technology more so than renewables. This is despite natural gas being vulnerable to geopolitical conflict. This was demonstrated by the spike in costs following the inception of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A similar rise in natural gas cost is expected to be experienced this year.

It could be argued that if this survey was completed in the near future when additional costs become apparent, confidence in natural gas will be reduced and confidence in renewables is increased. However, this survey does reflect a level of reluctance to move away from natural gas as a reliant form of energy.   

This survey was completed before the military conflict in Iran, so the answers to the survey do not take into consideration of potential fluctuations in gas costs. The current state and economic military action throughout the globe means that natural gas could be regarded as a financial concern by energy industry professionals and customers.

When considering the feedback - 53% believe that gas has a long-term UK future, an additional 46% think gas will be a main contributor towards UK power for 21 – 50 years, with a further 11% believing that gas has a shelf life of over 50 years.

Is this evidence that confidence in replacement energies and technologies does not appear to have been fully adopted by UK energy industry professionals?  Or is this evidence of total confidence in natural gas by UK energy sector professionals?  

When asked if new builds should be constructed with gas infrastructure 15% strongly agreed whilst 46% agreed. When compared to the figures of 19% of participants who disagreed and the 7% who strongly disagreed, you can argue that there is discernible support for the continuity of gas usage in UK new builds.

When you also add the 57% of respondents who strongly believe gas has a role in supplying energy to existing UK buildings and the 38% who also believe the same albeit in less rigorous assertion, gas appears to be favoured across new build and existing buildings. Again, natural gas is regarded as an energy source capable of delivering UK power requirements for heating and hot water.

When asked about pathway potential of gaseous energy only 3% answered ‘unsure’. This could insinuate that confidence in gas supplying infrastructure is high and that gasses are immediately identified as an available and convenient energy solution by UK energy industry professionals. The aforementioned survey figures imply that natural gas is still viewed as a cornerstone of UK energy supply and that gas has a pertinent role in the near and far future.  

This survey highlights that gas is still a strong option for all concerned and potentially reveals an uncertainty. What, precisely, is the uncertainty is ironically uncertain. Is it holistically NetZero as a concept and approach, alternative energies and related technology or simply cost of alternatives?

Rinnai aim to clarify the thoughts and concerns of UK contractors, specifiers, installers and customers of energy as well as appliances. Work will continue in presenting concise and transparent information that is designed to aid understanding of domestic and global energy direction and to assist in identifying the correct energy source and appliance for all UK customers.

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/about us/H3

• Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products - H1/H2/H3 - consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions.
• Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
• Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
• Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial, and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
• Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
• The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available - electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY of ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS - SAVINGS OF:

20%   REDUCTION of opex cost,

30%   REDUCTION of initial cost

15%   REDUCTION in carbon

75%   REDUCTION of space

Visit www.rinnai-uk.co.uk or email engineer@rinaiuk.com 

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