The Pathfinder Programme

The Pathfinder Programme aims to help meet Ireland’s 2030 emissions targets and set the country on the road to becoming net zero by 2050.

Established in 2017, its main ambition is to deliver sustainable solutions to the thermal demand put on buildings in the public sector, industry, academia and the non-domestic supply chain.

Currently, the programme is focussing on trialling deeper retrofit and renewable heating solutions. There are a number of activities that will be taken into account. These include:

• Insulation
• Doors and Windows
• Heating, Ventilation and Cooling
• Energy Management
• Energy Efficient Lighting
• Building Management

By looking at these areas, improvements can be made in comfort and indoor air quality, and reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Upskilling professionals and contractors in retrofitting, and enhancing their understanding will be key to the programme’s success.

Pathfinder Partners

Through a holistic approach, the Pathfinder Programme works with a number of select partners to create a scalable model for retrofitting schools, HSE buildings, higher education institutions, and over 120 central government buildings. The programme has four partners:

• Department of Education
• Health Service Executive
• Department of Further and Higher Education
• Office of Public Works

Norma Foley, Minister for Education stated that “The Pathfinder programme is a great example of how, working together on pilot energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, we can establish approaches to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements on a scalable basis”.

You can find out more about how these partnerships work here.

The National Heat Study

Key insights from The National Heat Study found that heat pumps are a considerable contributor to reducing Ireland’s emissions. However, as costs are still a barrier in the residential sector, the government must provide additional support to drive homeowner uptake.

The report highlights the fact that “​​decarbonising the electricity grid is essential to cutting heat-related emissions.” There is no point in having ubiquitous electric heating if the electricity is produced with carbon-emitting fuels. Therefore, biomass, solar and hydroelectric power will need to be ramped up to keep supply ahead of demand.

District heating will also play a vital role. Heat is generated in a centralised location and distributed through a system of insulated pipes to provide general heating and water heating to both residential and commercial properties. Every day, industrial activity creates vast quantities of heat that is released into the atmosphere. By combining the wasted heat with other resources (geothermal and solar), it could provide heating for over one million homes.

For further insights, you can download the Study Summary here.

How will the Pathfinder Programme benefit us?

The Pathfinder Programme will help to speed up the deployment of available technologies by utilising a combination of district heating and heat pumps in homes, businesses and industry. This way all sectors can contribute to fast decarbonisation and help with achieving our emissions reduction targets.

Net zero efforts will be addressed by looking at the following areas:

• Heating and cooling in Ireland today
• District Heating and Cooling
• Electricity Infrastructure
• Low Carbon Heating and Cooling Technologies
• Low Carbon Gases for Heat
• Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)
• Sustainable Bioenergy for Heat

By working closely with their partners, the programme will help to identify operational objectives, define the technical requirements, and help develop sustainable solutions to achieve targets and provide a healthier environment for us all to enjoy.

The MasterTherm Approach

Heat pumps will be central to achieving our carbon emissions targets. They can be used in any property that requires heating, heating and cooling but they are primarily used to provide hot water or to power a heating system. They are also increasingly being used in commercial and industrial settings replacing traditional fossil fuels. A MasterTherm heat pump can be an efficient way of repurposing heat energy that otherwise would have been wasted. This will make businesses more sustainable and economical. MasterTherm heat pumps are ultra-quiet, have a 7-year warranty, give you lower heating bills and can be controlled easily from a tablet or phone because they use inverter technology.

We will design and tailor a personalised heating system to suit your property’s requirements. We can design for a complex monitored heating and cooling system using rejected heat, or a central heating system with a simple hot water demand. With your interests at the heart of MasterTherm, we will ensure that you get the maximum benefit from your heat pump system.

If you’re looking for a heating and hot water solution for a large complex building, we may suggest multiple heat pumps working together. If you are unsure about how to start the journey to renewables using heat pumps, contact us and we can start by creating a bespoke design for your heating system.