Time for a Rethink on the UK's Strategy for Heating Decarbonisation?

The UK government is on a mission to move the UK away from gas and oil-fired boilers and towards more sustainable heating solutions. Currently, heat pumps are the government’s main focus, supported by initiatives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers a hefty £7,500 grant to help households install heat pumps, but uptake has been slower than expected. According to Ofgem, only 2,306 grants were redeemed by April 2024 which is considerably low compared to the ambitious target of 600,000 heat pump installations annually by 2028. Meaning that within the first few months of 2024, we were already 47,694 installations behind where we should have been to stay on track. This means we would have to install 552,306 to reach the annual target. 

Speeding Up the Journey to Net Zero

While heat pumps are a great energy-efficient option, they’re not the only path to a sustainable future. According to a report from the Heating and Hot Water Council, nearly 4-5 million homes in the UK could be unsuitable for heat pump installations. This makes it crucial to consider other sustainable heating solutions, such as electric radiators, which can significantly contribute to achieving sustainability goals by reducing carbon footprints while optimising energy use.

All electric radiators are easy to install and require minimal maintenance, making them a cost-effective option for modern housing needs. Plus, electric radiators, especially innovative models like the NEOS, are designed to maximise heat distribution while using less energy. Many models only need plugging into a standard electrical plug, making them non-invasive and ideal for retrofitting in existing homes. Essentially this versatility makes electric radiators an excellent choice for both new builds and retrofit projects where heat pumps or hybrid systems might not be suitable.

But why are hybrid heating systems needed?

Heating isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Two houses that look identical from the outside can have very different heating needs due to factors like insulation, glazing, drafts, and how the owners use their rooms and schedule heating. This is why every home would benefit from customised heating solutions tailored to both the home and the lifestyle of its residents.

Hybrid heating systems, which combine two or more heating technologies, are perfect for this, adapting to the unique needs of each household. Given that millions of homes in the UK may not be ideal candidates for heat pump installations, it’s crucial to explore alternatives like hybrid systems. These systems combine the strengths of various heating technologies, ensuring that even homes unsuitable for heat pumps alone can achieve greater efficiency and comfort, contributing significantly to the UK’s decarbonisation efforts. Hybrid heating systems are needed because they offer tailored, adaptable solutions for diverse home heating requirements, especially for homes where single heating technologies, like a heat pump approach, might fall short.

The Need for Broader Support

Unfortunately, political support for hybrid systems is lacking. While the government acknowledges hybrid heating as a viable option, they have been reluctant to provide incentives for consumers to make the switch, which is a financial barrier for homeowners. There is currently no grant for hybrid systems, and they are not prominently featured in the Heat and Buildings Strategy, Future Homes Standard, or Net Zero Strategy.

Despite the rise in alternative heat pump technologies and growing customer demand, the government has been slow to adapt its support. Most of the current incentives and grants, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, are heavily focused on heat pumps. As a result, homes and organisations are installing heat pumps even in situations where they may not be the most suitable option, driven by government regulations. This often leads to lower user satisfaction and higher heating bills. This issue is exacerbated by outdated EPC and SAP/rdSAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) systems that fail to recognise and accurately evaluate new, innovative technologies.

There’s also some confusion with the current policies. For instance, the draft rules for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund only provide funding for hybrid systems if they connect a heat pump to an existing A-rated boiler. But if you replace the boiler, you lose the grant.

But are local authorities really going to leave outdated boilers in place during renovation projects? Typically, they would upgrade all heating sources together, which would make many homes ineligible for the grant. A hybrid approach, which includes both gas and electric radiators alongside heat pumps, can help bridge the gap and provide a more flexible, efficient solution. 

A hybrid approach, which includes both gas and electric radiators, can help address this challenge and provide a more flexible, efficient solution. This method can contribute significantly to reaching the overall net zero target rather than just focusing on installing heat pumps. However, change is needed to support this approach. Without addressing the skills gap and broadening the support for hybrid systems, the UK risks falling behind its European counterparts in the race to decarbonisation.

The time for a strategic shift is now. By embracing a more inclusive and flexible approach to sustainable heating, and by investing in the training and development of a skilled workforce, the UK can ensure a smoother transition to net zero. 

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