This paper begins with an overview of the current supply and demand characteristics of primary energy for the provision of heat and power in the UK. This is followed by a brief review of a variety of solutions that are being proposed towards the establishment of asustainable energy landscape, including clean coal, wind and solar energy. The discussion extends to the economics and performance of various renewable energy systems in comparison to fossil fuel equivalents. Placed in this context, the study then focuses specifically on the role of pumped heat, combined heat and power (CHP) schemes, and options for the recovery and conversion of waste heat into useful work, all of which have a potential to contribute towards the creation of a ‘high-efficiency sustainable energy future’. It is concluded that although the problem is complex, the relative costs of competing technologies are not prohibitive, but comparable, leading to an inability to make a decisive choice and delaying progress. CHP and pumped heat are found to be similar in terms of overall efficiency, with the load factor (heat-to-power demand ratio) being of critical importance. Various waste heat conversion systems are also found to be similar in terms of the important indicator of power per unit cost.