The Government aims to phase out off-grid fossil fuel heating from 2026 as part of its drive to be net-zero by 2050. 

As part of Net-Zero week, many of the key players in this sector have put forward their arguments for a solution to this problem.  In an article for The House, Head of Advocacy and Communications at Dimeta, Sophia Haywood, comments that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to the energy sector.  She says:

“In the UK, there are over 2m rural off-grid homes and businesses which need a just transition to net-zero. For many of these applications, hydrogen and electrification will not be suitable due to geographical, technical and affordability reasons. There is a clear need for alternative solutions.” 

Her piece goes on to reason why renewable liquid gases offer “a long-term, cost-effective pathway to net-zero.”

This argument is continued by Duncan Carter, Head of Corporate Affairs at Calor Gas who says in his article for The House:

“Another application for Renewable liquid gases (RLGs) is home and business heating where electrification or hydrogen may not be the best option. While heat pumps may be technically suitable for the majority of homes if the cost or disruption involved in installation and retrofit is not considered, there are homes and businesses where heat pumps (and hydrogen) are impractical, such as many rural off-gas grid homes.

“Nearly 40% of rural homes were built before 1919, compared to just under 20% of urban homes, meaning they are often the least energy efficient. Yes, a heat pump can work, but it may mean a household must pay a large upfront retrofit cost or risk facing a high electricity bill. Another niche. It’s vital RLGs – and hybrid heat pumps – are recognised in government’s low carbon heat policies.”

However, ahead of Net-Zero week, the Government announced a significant investment in upskilling heating engineers to become fully qualified heat pump installers.  The scheme, which is part of the £5m Heat Training Grant, provides £500 off the cost of this training, per person.  The typical cost is around £600 per person.  It is hoped this will provide more than 6,000 heating engineers with the skills required to qualify as a heat pump engineer.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

“Heat pumps and heat networks are critical technologies for decarbonising heat - and play an important role in the country’s push towards net zero.? 

“With consumer demand set to surge in the coming years, we have committed to helping industry manufacture our own heat pumps and we will need thousands more expert installers ready for action.? 

“This grant will not only give the rollout of heat pumps and heat networks a huge boost but will help to develop a skilled workforce who will reap the rewards of joining a thriving installer market.”

The Government’s commitment to heat pumps is clear and backed up by research carried out by its own Electrification of Heat project.  The findings of this programme showed that there is no property type or architectural period that is unsuitable for a heat pump.  In a further demonstration of its commitment to heat pumps, the Government used Net-Zero week to also launch its Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition, offering £30 million to build new factories or expand existing, retool and rework existing factories to manufacture heat pumps and heat pump components.  The competition is available across the UK and projects can bid for a maximum of £15 million of funding per scheme.  The aim of the competition is to have up to 270,000 heat pumps or components built every year in the UK from 2028, with up to 3,000 jobs supported, and generate up to £270 million of private sector investment into the domestic heat pump supply chain. 

However, the recently elected Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, Angus MacNeil MP (SNP, Na h-Eileanan an Iar) is taking a more considered approach to meeting the net-zero 2050 goal.  He told The House that all options must be explored:

“If the government is to meet another of its core priorities by ensuring the UK is on track to hit its legally binding net-zero commitments, innovation in the economy is vital. There will be a number of competing interests and the Committee will play its role to ensure they all get a chance to present their evidence.”