Urgent Call for Transition to Low-Carbon Heating in UK Homes
Key Ideas
- Nesta's analysis highlights the need for three million homes in the UK to switch to heat pumps or low-carbon heating systems to meet climate targets during this parliamentary term.
- The report suggests policy changes, such as rebalancing energy bills and ruling out hydrogen for home heating, to facilitate the transition to cleaner heating solutions.
- Recommendations include the establishment of a national agency for administering government schemes, launching neighborhood delivery pilots, and addressing fuel poverty through fully funded low-carbon heating installations.
- Stakeholders emphasize the importance of coordinated efforts by the new Government to drive progress in decarbonizing home heating and achieving energy security and cost savings for households.
The analysis by innovation charity Nesta emphasizes the need for urgent action to transition UK households to low-carbon heating solutions to combat climate change. With only 250,000 heat pumps installed between 2020-2024 and 25.5 million homes still relying on oil or gas boilers, the report stresses the urgency of significantly increasing installations. Nesta's recommendations include rebalancing energy bills to make electric heat pumps cost-competitive with gas boilers, establishing a national agency to manage government schemes, launching neighborhood delivery pilots for collective switching to low-carbon heating, and ruling out hydrogen for home heating. The report also calls for addressing fuel poverty by fully funding low-carbon heating installations in social housing. Stakeholders highlight the potential for cost savings, energy efficiency, and improved living conditions through this transition. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero reaffirms the government's commitment to upgrading homes through the Warm Homes Plan, aiming to cut bills, reduce fuel poverty, and align with climate goals.