Looking at the UK market from the other side

Looking at the UK market from a German viewpoint gives me a strong feeling of déjà vu. Many issues and debates in the UK about the speed and difficulty of moving to higher efficiency heat generation and alternative energy sources, mirror those we experienced some five years ago. And the issues raised in Germany were the same as in the Netherlands five years before that. So there is some wisdom crossing Europe's borders, but it seems to travel slowly.

Many BSJ readers will know that in Germany, low energy use in buildings has been a feature of the market for many years. As important has been the issue of reducing the harmful emissions from flue products. The Blue Angel standard was introduced to ensure that the technology moved towards ever more environmentally friendly products.

The argument over low emission standards has now been settled and is accepted as part of the market. Indeed by use of the so called Hamburg Regulations, heat requirements and emissions are further improving to around two thirds of previous levels.

In the commercial boiler market we see around 40% and rising of all new installations using condensing boiler technology and the remainder using low temperature boilers, offering good performance although not to condensing levels. Boilers operating at normal, (ie UK level) flow temperatures are not now allowed in Germany. In existing installations the condensing boiler share is lower, at around 20%.

New technology
Reaching this point has not been easy. There has been much concern from the heating contractor sector over the introduction of a higher, and to them more complex technology. Does this sound familiar? Points where detailed information was required covered the design of systems to maximise condensing effect and the greater care needed in designing flue systems.

The most potent factor in encouraging more use of high efficiency boilers was probably the non-technical one. Money. At national, local and city government levels, grants and tax breaks encouraged the selection of the new technology. Another important factor was the attitude of specifying engineers. German engineers, I guess like their counterparts anywhere, like to have new technical approaches to try. Local government engineers in particular faced pressure on their budgets for energy running costs so the new technology offered a way forward.

What happened in effect was that the specifying was being done by the customer and the heating contractor was drawn, reluctantly, along. Now this is a little simplified. There are, as I know you have in Britain, many enthusiasts for greater efficiency. But in general we saw a customer led demand.

Manufacturers did much to encourage and inform the industry, holding technical seminars and keeping up a flow of information into the technical heating press.

Today's picture
We now see little debate over low energy/ low emission boiler technology. Topics that are now important are the ways to apply alternative energy as the next stage in the befriending of the environment. Solar power is starting to move quickly, as I also detect in the UK, spurred once again by a selection of grants. It is normal to be able to fund around 25% of the cost of the installation this way and in some areas up to 40% is available.

Allying solar to condensing boiler technology, as in the Viessmann Vitasol system, gives a sound, year round approach. In some parts of Germany, especially outside the gas network, heat pumps are making headway, using air, water or ground water sources. CHP started with government encouragement but the liberalisation of electric power supply has meant that progress has now stopped. Mini chp has also been tried but even in German homes, with basements for services, noise and size are customer deterrents.

What next? Looking perhaps five years ahead fuel cells seem to be a likely area and several German manufacturers have trial installations in hand. What will not change is the need for all in the industry, throughout Europe, to approach and embrace these new technologies.