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Despite news of Britain’s first ‘energy positive’ house, which can generate more electricity than its occupants will use, gas is still "integral" in a future balanced energy mix, Wales and West Utilities has said.
The firm’s head of regulation Steve Edwards told Utility Week: “The ‘energy positive’ house is a good example of how future energy consumers could reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and cut their energy bills, with continued support from the gas network at peak times of day and in the winter period.
“It is an innovative new build solution, and while existing housing stock could be retrofitted with some energy efficiency measures they would still rely on a gas network for heating and cooking,” he added.
“We are working with academia, renewable energy organisations and other stakeholders on projects to decarbonise the gas network, and we see mains gas as integral in a future, balanced energy mix.”
News of the energy positive house, designed by the architecture team at Cardiff University, was reported in The Guardian yesterday. The house will use batteries to store the electricity which it generates from the solar panels. It also has massive amounts of insulation to reduce energy use in winter months, and should be able to export electricity to the grid for eight months of the year.
Phil Jones, who led the team, said that for every £100 spent on electricity, the house should be able to generate £175 in electricity exports.
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