Decarbonising both heating and cooling across residential, business and industry sectors is fundamental to delivering the recently announced net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets. Such a monumental change to this sector can only be delivered through the collective advancement of science, engineering and technology combined with prudent planning, demand management and effective policy.
The aim of the proposed H+C Zero Network will be to facilitate this through funded workshops, conferences and secondments which in combination will enable researchers, technology developers, managers, policymakers and funders to come together to share their progress, new knowledge and experiences. It will also directly impact on this through a series of research funding calls which will offer seed funding to address key technical, economic, social, environmental and policy challenges.
The proposed Network will focus on the following five themes which are essential for decarbonising heating and cooling effectively:
Theme 1 Primary engineering technologies and systems for decarbonisation
Theme 2 Underpinning technologies, materials, control, retrofit and infrastructure
Theme 3 Future energy systems and economics
Theme 4 Social impact and end users' perspectives
Theme 5 Policy Support and leadership for the transition to net-zero

Potential Impact:
A net-zero carbon future requires monumental changes which can only be delivered through the collective advancement of science, engineering and technology combined with prudent planning, demand management, societal acceptance and effective policy. Such changes will be transformative to individuals, industrial organisations, business and leaders. The proposed H+C Zero Network will cut across technology, whole-energy system, economics, social science, environmental assessment and policy. This will be realised through the delivery of a series of proposed activities that will encourage researchers, technology developers, managers, policymakers and funders to come together, share progress, new knowledge and experience, and consequently establish a strong research-industry-government-society network. The success will position the UK as a world leader in the climate change challenge.