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INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Electrification isn’t enough: the case for a broader heat strategy
Niall Parkin, sustainable fuels product manager at Calor explores why electrification alone cannot deliver the UK’s heat transition
B
y 2030, the UK Government is aiming for five million homes to be heated via low-carbon alternatives. Supported by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, electrification sits at the centre of this strategy, with heat pump rollout widely seen as critical to its success. However, to deliver decarbonisation at scale, we need to recognise the realities of Britain’s housing. While policy is national, homes vary widely in age, construction and infrastructure, shaping how low-carbon heating can be installed and how the transition can be delivered in practice. Across the UK, around 4.4 million homes -
approximately 15.1% of households - are not connected to the gas grid. Many rely on established wet central heating systems that continue to provide consistent, high-temperature heat in colder, more exposed and often damp rural climates. The key focus should therefore be how we reduce
carbon emissions at pace in homes that are not yet fully prepared for it. This includes considering the role that lower-carbon alternatives, such as renewable liquid fuels including BioLPG, can play in reducing emissions in the interim.
The realities of the UK’s housing landscape
Heat pumps operate most effectively in well- insulated buildings with low heat loss, which is why the Warm Homes Plan prioritises insulation and wider energy efficiency improvements. This presents particular challenges for off-grid homes were built long before modern energy efficiency standards were introduced. In these properties, fabric upgrades such as insulation, glazing or emitter upgrades are often required before a heat pump can be installed. This increases upfront costs and typically requires phased upgrades, funding coordination and careful sequencing rather than a straightforward appliance replacement. Infrastructure readiness also adds a further
layer of complexity. The 2024 Regen report for the MCS Foundation highlights the growing pressure on distribution networks, particularly low-voltage grid capacity and local planning. In rural areas, this can mean connection delays and reinforcement timelines that sit outside the scope of a single installation project.
The role of sustainable fuels Together, these factors shape how quickly low-
Above: Niall Parkin,
sustainable fuels product manager at Calor
carbon heating can be deployed across off-grid homes. Progress depends on pathways that can be introduced quickly, work within existing infrastructure and supply chains and minimise disruption while buildings and local electricity networks are gradually prepared for greater electrification.
LPG has long heated rural homes through an established supply network. Its renewable counterpart, BioLPG, offers the same performance with up to 90% lower lifecycle emissions. For existing LPG homes, switching to BioLPG requires no changes to existing boilers or heating systems, enabling immediate emissions reductions. For oil- heated homes, conversion to LPG – and later BioLPG – can offer a more practical route to emissions reduction than immediate electrification. The importance of compatibility should not be
underestimated. Approximately 250,000 homes already use LPG, and a further 1.7 million rely on heating oil, typically through wet central heating systems. Using these systems can allow emissions reductions to begin within the existing infrastructure, while insulation upgrades and network capacity improve over time. Hybrid systems offer another pathway by pairing
an air-source heat pump with an LPG or BioLPG boiler. Most heat demand is met electrically, while the boiler provides high-temperature support during colder periods, easing pressure on local electricity networks and supporting homes with higher heat loss. Although the Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently supports standalone heat pumps, hybrid systems are not fully recognised. For installers, however, they provide a more practical way to deploy low-
carbon heating, while allowing projects to be phased more gradually. The Netherlands offers a clear example of this approach, targeting one million hybrid heat pumps by 2030 as part of its managed electrification strategy.
For every home
Reducing emissions from home heating while tackling fuel poverty and improving housing quality remains central to the Warm Homes Plan. Delivering these goals across the UK’s diverse housing stock will depend on solutions that installers can deploy in practice. Renewable liquid fuels offer immediate carbon
reductions, while hybrid heating systems help manage peak electricity demand and support local grid stability. Retaining existing wet heating systems also allows upgrades to be phased, limiting disruption and helping households manage costs. As insulation improves and electricity networks
expand, more homes will transition to full electrification. However, progress will vary across different property types and locations, particularly in off-grid areas where installers often need to sequence upgrades around local constraints. The 4.4 million homes that are not connected to the gas grid represent a substantial proportion of the housing stock. Ensuring that these properties are not left waiting for ideal conditions to align is critical to achieving national carbon targets. Integrating sustainable fuels alongside electrification does not dilute ambition; it strengthens delivery by acknowledging that decarbonisation is a systems challenge shaped by buildings, infrastructure and household economics.
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