Richard Hanson-Graville

All the recent studies into the efficiency of existing heat networks has shown them to be grossly inefficient, with up to 80% heat losses, however it has taken funded studies to highlight data that should already readily available. Studies into renewables schemes has also shown significant numbers to be incorrectly installed and poorly performing.
Even the UKs BRIAM awarded renewables installation has been shown to simple not work.

If we are to achieve net-zero, then renewables systems we install actually need to work as intended, especially when receiving funding.
The problem persists due to a lack of transparency, with schemes such as Ofgem’s MMSP having little uptake.
BMS systems that control heat networks run on closed systems with layers of licencing, and offer no insights as to the operational efficiency of systems.

Our project aims to solve this situation by putting in place a licence free open-source means of controlling and monitoring HVAC systems of any type. We are making use of existing open source projects such as Node-RED, Influx and Grafana, and combining these with the best equipment control strategies to deliver functioning software code and hardware that allows anyone to implement the best levels of control and monitoring.
We will present on field trials where the systems are already in place, saving carbon, and describe how this can be replicated.