Completed Projects

This project explored the feasibility of using wood wool as a locally sourced, sustainable insulation material for the UK construction sector. Addressing the current reliance on imported insulation products, the study focused on developing insulation boards from UK-grown resources and evaluating their thermal and acoustic performance.
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The results demonstrate that wood wool insulation can be produced at pilot scale, although process adjustments were required to achieve stable manufacturing. Thermal testing showed conductivity values in the range of 0.040–0.042 W/m·K, placing the material within the performance range of natural and fibrous insulation materials and suitable for typical building applications. Acoustic testing also revealed strong sound absorption, particularly at mid- to high frequencies, with some compositions performing comparably to conventional materials such as mineral wool.
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The project highlighted important manufacturing considerations, including material behaviour and compatibility with existing production systems. The need for secondary fibres to support processing indicates that further optimisation is required to fully understand the performance of wood wool alone.
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Overall, the findings suggest strong potential for wood wool as a low-carbon, bio-based insulation material. Its compatibility with breathable construction makes it particularly relevant for retrofit and high-density building applications.
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TT-R is a retrofit showcase case study of the art of the possible using advanced timber and renewable energy technologies. It is an exemplar timber MMC project that, in combination with other “Living Lab” projects, has enabled the full commercialisation of UK sourced mass timber and the development of a digitised kit of parts capable of responding to a range of contexts. The TT-R case study encapsulates the ethos of MMC by:
– Showcasing a collaborative procurement model and then capturing and presenting the value return from the retrofit and upgrade measures relative to capital investment.
– Demonstrating innovative proof of concept offsite timber technology solutions for retrofit and extension which have been tested and validated and further combined with renewable options.
– Capturing and presenting the whole life value impact of the interventions considering embodied and operational carbon to help inform the decision-making processes of future retrofit, extension, and renewable integration projects.
– Acting as the catalyst for factory investment and the commercialisation of UK sourced advanced timber technologies capable of responding to a range of contexts fully embracing the ethos of MMC.
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CeNZ funding has enable the capture and codification of these outputs in a range of materials (video, webinar etc) and academic publications to broaden outreach and impact including the creation of educational outputs.
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The project successfully demonstrated the technical and financial viability of Allume SolShare technology across multiple social housing building types in Scotland. Building on the initial feasibility study for Building Type 1, the work extended analysis to additional high-priority building typologies, producing practical insights into system performance, suitability, and cost-effectiveness.
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Through collaboration between Allume Energy, the University of the West of Scotland, CeNZ-HighDB, and East Ayrshire Council, the project combined housing data, energy usage profiles, and technical expertise to develop replicable assessment models and retrofit strategies

This project has successfully delivered a robust evidence base to support the decarbonisation of Scotland’s social housing through informed deployment of low-carbon heating and hot water technologies. Working in partnership with Changeworks, the University of the West of Scotland, Fife Council and technology providers, the Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB) has developed a comprehensive and scalable repository of emerging and established solutions.
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The project combined technical data, real-world case studies and stakeholder insight to evaluate performance, cost, carbon impact and suitability across different housing contexts. This has created a practical decision-support tool that enables housing providers, local authorities and third-sector organisations to compare technologies, understand deployment risks and identify the most appropriate options for different building types and communities.
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Beyond the technical outputs, the project has established a strong cross-sector partnership that links research, innovation and delivery. It provides a clear pathway from evidence to action, supporting live trials and future investment in low-carbon heat. The work lays a solid foundation for scaling up solutions that are not only environmentally effective but also affordable, reliable and appropriate for the people who live in Scotland’s high-density and social housing.

This project enhanced the open-access Centralisation Assessment Tool for Heat Pump Systems (CATHeaPS), allowing it to integrate openly accessible EPC data for Glasgow to assess how retrofitting impacts the techno-environmental-economic performance of thermal systems. The systems evaluated include 4th generation district heating, ambient networks with decentralised booster heat pumps, individual air source heat pumps, and individual gas boilers.
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Key Outputs:
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CATHeaPS 3.0: Evaluates retrofitting impacts, performs network routing, and provides comprehensive costs, electrical capacity requirements and CO₂ emissions for each thermal system before and after retrofits proposed in the respective EPCs.
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Data Methods: Developed workflows to leverage open-access EPC datasets.
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Practical Application: A case study of Govanhill, Glasgow, ensures replicability.
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CATHeaPS supports local councils and stakeholders in evaluating thermal systems, providing insights into costs, emissions, and electrical capacity requirements. This facilitates informed decision-making for urban decarbonization.
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Accessible via GitHub, CATHeaPS 3.0 includes the Govanhill dataset and video tutorials to help public sector bodies plan low-carbon systems and assess retrofitting effects, advancing a just transition for Glasgow. An open-access journal submission is planned for early 2026.

The EHD legacy project examined how EDI, workforce skills and regional conditions shape the adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) for net-zero housing. The project produced a comprehensive case study and an EDI-focused analysis report highlighting the opportunities to strengthen inclusion in community engagement, workforce diversity and procurement approaches. The regional adaptability review brought together stakeholders from Highland and Island Enterprise to explore differences in rural and urban delivery models, identifying challenges around supply-chain capacities. Academic partnership with universities like Nottingham Trent University and the international delegation with the University of California, Berkeley, through workshops and site visits, were central to generating dialogue on Scotland’s MMC innovation.
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The project’s output feed into a future development of educational output and learning toolkit designed to support policy makers, skills through CPD development and housing professionals in creating more inclusive and scalable net-zero programmes.

Modelling and simulation was used to assess the performance of different low carbon heating system options for high density social flats in Barshare, Cumnock. Key findings were as follows:
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– Improvements to the existing flat building fabric reduced energy demand by up to 72%.
– The ground floor had up to 30% higher energy consumption than other floors in the building.
– Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) outperformed the air source heat pumps (ASHP) across all scenarios modelled, an average coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.64 compared to a COP of 2.54, respectively.
– GSHP annual running costs and CO2 emissions were 40% lower than to ASHP.
– Radiant heating energy and costs were 3x higher than GSHP, but the capital costs was substantially less, calculates indicated that savings from heat pump operation would take 20 years to offset their higher capital cost.
– Supply temperatures could be reduced to 50^oC, without adversely affecting comfort, further reductions caused discomfort in less well insulated properties.
– Different GSHP borehole depths 100-200m were investigated, with the 200m borehole giving more stable temperatures and a higher COP.
Solar recharging of boreholes improved the COP of the GSHP, and enabled a 160m borehole to deliver similar levels of performance to the 200m borehole.
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A 25 kWp PV system with a 30 kWh battery could supply up to 50 % of the GSHP’s annual electricity demand, representing about 15 % of the total PV generation, mainly during the shoulder months.
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This project looked at how Mixergy’s smart hot water tanks could work in social housing and larger residential buildings to make heating water more efficient and sustainable. The collaboration between Mixergy, the University of the West of Scotland, and CeNZ-HighDB focused on understanding how the technology could connect with existing systems like solar panels, heat pumps, and smart energy tariffs.
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By working with housing provider and energy partners, real data was gathered to explore the practical benefits and challenges of using smart thermal storage in common building block. The study showed strong potential for reducing energy use, cutting carbon emissions, and potentially lowering bills for tenants.
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The project created a strong foundation for future pilot projects within this, or similar housing blocks as identified by EAC.
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This project explored the feasibility of deploying Allume Energy’s SolShare technology – a world-first solution enabling shared solar for flats, in a 36-unit social housing block in East Ayrshire. In partnership with East Ayrshire Council, Allume Energy, and the University of the West of Scotland, the project aimed to reduce tenant energy costs, support decarbonisation, and create a replicable model for similar housing stock.
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Key activities included site assessment, data collection, technical and financial modelling, and stakeholder reporting. Findings confirm that SolShare is a viable and impactful retrofit option, offering strong potential for lowering bills and carbon emissions in multi-residential buildings.
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Next steps are to potentially live trial the system identified within the building/s and compare the modelled savings/benefits against the produced data and complete a post occupancy analysis on this system with a combined heating system.
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Further to these, a follow-on involves expanding feasibility studies across wider housing stock, leading to a practical retrofit handbook – a one-stop guide covering housing archetypes, costs, benefits, and implementation pathways. This resource will support both EAC and other councils in identifying opportunities to deliver equitable access to clean energy at scale.

The CeNZ Retrofit Scotland Review and Upgrade project delivered a documented guide through literature review, stakeholder discussions, case study analysis, and iterative mock-up design. This process informed the upgrade of the Retrofit Scotland website into a comprehensive online platform, now featuring retrofit case studies for the public and serving as a key channel for showcasing CeNZ-HighDB research outputs.
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The upgraded platform prioritises clarity, accessibility, and ease of navigation, enabling users to quickly locate relevant retrofit information. It also provides the level of specificity needed to support informed decision-making. Proposed changes included standardising and updating content, enhancing web design and presentation, integrating relevant resources with case studies, and establishing a streamlined process for acquiring new case studies with complete and well-structured information.
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The prepared guide outlines how resources can be embedded within the website, including online retrofit pattern books, categorisation by building archetypes, and best practice recommendations. It also highlights energy-saving measures, retrofit skill development, and other relevant guidance. These evidence-based resources strengthen knowledge exchange and contribute to shaping effective energy policies and delivery programmes, supporting Scotland’s transition towards achieving Net Zero by 2045.