Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1122505
FUTURE OF HEAT D ecarbonisation needs to start now. That was the message at Future of Heat with speak- ers highlighting their vision for national decarbonisation of heat in the UK during proceedings. With the Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) recent recommendations to move beyond an 80 per cent target and deliver net zero emissions by 2050, it is clear that energy networks will have a key role to play. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) recently backed the CCC's advice that to move beyond an 80 per cent target and deliver net zero emissions by 2050, low-car - bon hydrogen will be an absolute necessity The inaugural Future of Heat conference took place in Birmingham last month (May) and addressed issues surrounding decarbonising heat across the UK. Alec Peachey was there. NETWORK / 28 / JUNE 2019 within the energy system. Speaking at the event, John Armstrong, head of city energy at E.ON UK said: "We cannot wait until 2050. It will be absolutely wrong of us to not act now when we have the tools and technologies to get stuck into it now. When we talk about the future of heat I don't want it to be a topic that's five or 10 years out and somebody else's prob - lem. It's absolutely something that we have the tools to address today." Phil Sheppard, director of gas transmis- sion at National Grid, spoke about how the gas networks can help deliver a low carbon future. He echoed Armstrong's views over the need to start decarbonisation now, adding: "If we don't start now we're never going to get to zero carbon." Sheppard provided insights into the potential options of decarbonising heat, in - cluding alternatives such as electrification, biomethane, hydrogen and carbon capture use and storage (CCUS). But he acknowledged that there is no sin - gle answer, telling the audience: "A phrase that's used a lot is that there's a patchwork quilt of solutions." Tom Thackray, director of infrastructure and energy policy at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), spoke about the role of energy efficiency and the challenge for business. Thackray talked about the importance of Assessing options for heat Tom Thackray from the CBI addresses a packed audience at Future of Heat.