The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is seeking partners to participate in a retrofit project aimed at improving the energy efficiency of homes.

The partners will be part of the ETI’s £100 million Smart Systems and Heat (SSH) technology programme announced last year. The project includes retrofitting a selected number of different domestic properties and further developing strategies and techniques from the previous ETI research for future mass-scale roll-out.

The programme expects to deliver efficient heating needs across the UK and help reduce domestic energy usage through improved thermal efficiency.

Dr Grant Bourhill, the ETI’s Smart Systems and Heat Director said: “Retrofitting existing homes is an important element in developing a cost-effective, practical solution for the delivery of heat and comfort. The challenge of introducing this to the UK housing stock is huge. Therefore we want to ensure we have solutions that are not only fit for purpose but that are economical and provide comfort to consumers.”

The ETI is a public-private partnership between global energy and engineering companies – BP, EDF Energy, Caterpillar, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell – and the UK Government. It is tasked with developing the technologies to help the UK meet its 2050 carbon reduction targets on a mass-scale.

The ETI awarded more than £1 million for four projects to develop a system that enables efficient use of energy whilst meeting consumers’ needs earlier this year.