A new project involving renewable energy experts based in Penryn has been launched to pioneer new initiatives for greener home heating.

The SHIFFT project (Sustainable Heating: Implementation of Fossil-Free Technology) is designed to help transform low carbon heating in houses and public space.

The project, which includes a team of six University of Exeter researchers, led by Professor Peter Connor from Exeter’s Penryn Campus, is funded by a €5.7M investment by the EU’s INTERREG 2 Seas programme.

The SHIFFT team includes an international team of experts, who will work with consumers to develop practical strategies, minimising costs and delivering real low carbon heat projects.

The project has two key aims – to develop city strategies for four local authorities to reduce their heating carbon footprint and to develop practical low carbon heating solutions for four projects across four countries. They are tied together by development of strategies to maximise ‘co-creation’, that is, community involvement in each process.

Professor Connor, an expert in sustainable energy policy, said: “Right now, most of our homes and buildings are heated by burning gas, with much of that heat lost due to poor insulation – this is unsustainable.

“We need a rapid, large-scale shift to renewable heating technologies and a programme of energy efficiency measures to hit European carbon targets.

“The SHIFFT project will set an example by working with communities and residents to design new heating systems as well as producing guidance for local authorities developing their own Sustainable Heating Strategy across the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

“Crucially, this project demonstrates the idea that the transition to low carbon heating in our buildings must be done with the people living in them, rather than being done to people.”

Professor Connor said that, with the declaration of a climate emergency, everyone must look at how big changes can be made in the local communities. The project is timely, with the UK Government opening a consultation into measures to revitalise renewable heat policy

Heat accounts for 79 per cent of energy consumption in the typical European household, he said, yet most customers and cities know little about low carbon alternatives for keeping their homes warm and their bills down.

The ten SHIFFT partners will develop sustainable heating strategies for four partner cities, Mechelen and Bruges in Belgium, Middelburg in the Netherlands and Fourmies in France.

The University of Exeter, French consultancy CD2E, Belgian energy agency De Schakelaar and the Dutch Delft University of Technology will provide technical support and work with local communities to co-create plans to put low carbon heat systems in buildings in all four target countries. Installation of selected low carbon heating technologies will then be made by partners.

The SHIFFT website is now live: www.shifftproject.eu