The Heat Pump Association (HPA), as the UK’s leading authority on the use and benefits of heat pump technology, has welcomed the publication of the Committee on Climate Change’s Net Zero report.
Its report highlighted that a net-zero target for UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is both achievable and will deliver on the UK’s Paris Agreement commitments.
The HPA agreed with the Committee that reaching this target is feasible with already available technologies, such as heat pumps, which are vital in the decarbonisation of UK heating systems.
Crucially, the report highlights the need for the Government to act immediately to implement a clear regulatory framework to achieve the decarbonisation of heat and recommends a range of policies to do so, it said.
The policy recommendations of the report include support for low carbon heating, a review of the balance of tax and regulatory costs across fuels, and a nationwide training programme to upskill the existing workforce.
The HPA was pleased to see these recommendations as a means of reflecting the benefits of low carbon technologies and aims to work with all stakeholders to develop effective policy starting with the upcoming Part L Review and consultation on the regulatory framework for the future of heat to phase out high carbon fossil fuels.
Graham Wright, HPA chairman, said: “The HPA wholeheartedly supports the report’s recognition that urgent action is required to meet a net-zero target and welcomes the specific recommendations for decarbonising heat within the publication.
“Momentum is now gathering among the public acknowledging the need to change the way we heat our buildings and, as highlighted in the report, known technologies, such as heat pumps, offer a clear solution for this.
“Heat pumps offer an extensive opportunity to reduce the UK’s emissions, as well as helping to address other policy issues such as fuel poverty and air quality. The Future Homes standard set to be introduced in 2025, and supported within this report, represents the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of heating in new builds, which, in addition to those properties off the gas grid, should be the immediate focus for the Government.”
OFTEC CEO Paul Rose, pictured, added: “OFTEC is wholly committed to the decarbonisation agenda and since the announcement of the Clean Growth Strategy in October 2017, we have been working with industry and government to research and develop plans for a phased migration of oil-using homes across the UK from kerosene to 100% low carbon biofuel.
“Given the demanding challenges of increasing capacity and decarbonising electricity generation, we believe the use of biofuels presents a significant opportunity to make progress in the difficult off-gas grid heating sector, while limiting adverse impacts on consumers.
“Following careful analysis of decarbonisation pathways utilising biofuels, OFTEC confidently believes our sector can contribute to net zero emissions from heat ahead of 2050. We will be presenting more details from our research at our conference in June.
“Before we can act, we need government to provide the policy framework necessary to support investment. The right regulatory support is critical to empower heating industries like ours to deliver cost-effective and convenient low carbon solutions into a competitive marketplace. Competition between low carbon technologies will result in better outcomes for consumers and more choice, resulting in a faster transition at lower cost.”