Experts call for clarification of the role of boilers and heat pumps in decarbonisation
Participants at the 21st Annual Conference of the Spanish Technical Association for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Atecyr) highlighted the need to accelerate the transition in the construction sector in order to speed up decarbonisation in the residential and commercial sectors. They pointed out that full decarbonisation is scheduled for 2050 and warned that, looking ahead to 2040, it will be necessary to clarify the role of existing boilers, heat pumps and renewable fuels.
The Atecyr conference focused on the decarbonisation of the building stock in the context of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and its transposition into domestic legislation. The discussion therefore focused on the state of transposition in Spain, with particular attention paid to the main legislative instruments involved: Technical Building Code, Regulations on Thermal Installations in Buildings, and Energy Performance Certification for Buildings. An update was provided on the current status of the transposition of the most relevant articles of the EPBD, including: the National Building Renovation Plan, the minimum energy performance requirements (MEPs), the definition of a zero-emission building, solar energy in buildings, sustainable mobility and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) indicator.
As for zero-emission buildings, the definition is already included in the Technical Building Code, but the requirements have not yet been quantified. This figure may be similar to the current one, lower or even higher, as the calculations are being based on efficiency criteria, which have changed over the years.
The new Basic Document on Environmental Sustainability (DB-HSA) comprises two main sections: HSA 1, relating to global warming potential, and HSA 2, relating to sustainable mobility: charging points and cycle parking facilities. In terms of global warming potential, this will enable the gradual incorporation of broader environmental criteria into building design. For the time being, only the reporting of the indicator is envisaged, with no compliance thresholds. This indicator will be included in the energy performance certificate and will be calculated at the design stage, with a final calculation carried out once the building is complete (as is the case with certification).
The need for supporting documentation to facilitate a simplified procedure for calculating global warming potential was also explained. This procedure takes into account the life cycle stages, uses default values obtained from environmental product declarations for stages A1–A3, and provides for simplified procedures for the remaining stages.
With regard to the proposals to accelerate decarbonisation in the residential and commercial sectors, the starting point was the need to accelerate the transition in the building sector. It was put forward that the sector is due to be fully decarbonised by 2050 and that, looking ahead to 2040, it will be necessary to clarify the role of existing boilers, heat pumps and renewable fuels.
Fossil fuels
The second part of the meeting was devoted to discussing proposals to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels, in line with the ‘Accelerate EU’ plan, which is due to be published shortly and which aims to further electrify the economy and drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption.
Some of the proposals and issues raised included: strengthening support schemes and mechanisms such as CAEs to improve the economic viability of replacing boilers with heat pumps; defining clear criteria for 2040 regarding electrification and the role of renewable gas; highlighting the importance of Energy Conversion Factors for electricity; facilitating the installation of individual heat pumps in apartment buildings; reducing tax barriers to support schemes; improving the cost competitiveness of electricity compared to natural gas; simplifying administrative procedures and public procurement; promoting training and communication aimed at users and industry stakeholders; achieving the building refurbishment targets set out in the PNIEC/PNRE; incorporating climate resilience criteria into regulations and the design of installations in commercial sector buildings; establishing a communication plan to support the roll-out of heat pumps; addressing the labour market situation and the shortage of skilled labour; and establishing monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track progress made towards meeting the targets for the roll-out of heat pumps, renewable electricity, electrical infrastructure and the development of biogas.