The heat and building strategy says homeowners can access £5,000 grants from April 2022, to switch out their fossil fuel boilers
The strategy, released one day late out of respect to the late Sir David Amess MP, proposes how homeowners can transition to greener energy.
While the new scheme provides financial support, politicians say that it may take 14 years to transition fully from fossil fuel technology in the home.
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Recent volatile global gas prices have highlighted the need to double down on our efforts to reduce Britain’s reliance on fossil fuels and move away from gas boilers over the coming decade to protect consumers in long term.”
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Currently, the UK is attempting to reach three-quarters of the way to zero emissions by 2050, with a 78% decrease in emissions by 2035. The UK will also be responsible for negotiating similar agreements from high-pollution nations attending COP26.
The heat and building strategy is the first of a handful of new climate proposals in anticipation of November.
Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, homeowners will have access to £5,000 grants from April, 2022. For three years, the £450 million scheme will assist people to install a heat pump. Heat pumps use a greener energy source than traditional, fossil fuel boilers.
Globally, renewable energy is concentrated in the world’s richest countries. Internally, climate targets have sparked fears among the population about the affordability of green energy.
The release emphasised that “no-one will be forced to remove their existing fossil fuel boilers,” addressing existing tensions between prominent targets and the potential cost to the general population.
Will heat pumps be enough?
No.
Pete Mills, Commercial Technical Operations Manager at Bosch Commercial & Industrial, wrote that a hybrid heat pump system may be more efficient than a full transition. He said:
“As the UK moves towards a Net Zero future, the role of district heating will no doubt become more prominent. Many believe that heat pumps could and should be the sole heat source for heat network projects, particularly as we see the decline of CHP use.
“However, this may actually limit a heat network’s potential.”
The UK Government acknowledge that a mix of systems will be necessary. Hydrogen is another possible option, being entirely clean, but the decision on this will only be made in 2026.
