A Comparative Environmental Assessment of Heat Pumps and Gas Boilers towards a Circular Economy in the UK

This research compares the potential environmental impacts of heat pumps with gas boilers and scenario analysis through utilising life cycle approach. The study analyses current situation baseline model assesses future applications Circular Economy (CE), Resource Efficiency (RE) Limited Growth (LG) scenarios. Then, hybrid low-carbon technologies different manufacturing scenarios are investigated according to CE Our results show that use phases responsible for 74% 14% all on average as expected. Even though electricity mix UK has decarbonised substantially during last decade, still have higher lifetime than in categories except climate change impact. carbon intensity is much lower 0.111 0.097 kg CO2e air source ground pumps, whereas boiler stands 0.241 CO2e. Future offer significant reductions most impact categories. highest a 44% reduction 27% average. RE LG smaller scenario, relatively. However, several expect an increase such freshwater ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity metal depletion High deployment offshore wind farms will negative these categories; therefore, comprehensive approach market introduction programme should be provided at beginning before shifting from one technology another. 50% Hybrid 24% 20% ASHP GSHP, respectively, model. only 2% decrease both because demand future. These emphasise even importance phase model, remaining play important role achieve Net-Zero targets