INDUSTRY INSIGHT
www.heatingandventilating.net
Is the writing on the wall for UK boilers?
Founder of Boiler Guide, David Holmes, discusses the future of boilers in the UK following the announcement in the Spring Statement that it will be illegal to install a gas boiler in a new build home from 2025
of hitting its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050, it now will be illegal to install a gas boiler in a new build home from 2025.
O While phasing out oil, coal and LPG boilers in off-grid homes during the 2020s
was already in the Clean Growth Plan, making a move against gas-grid boilers is a new development in the strategy. The government has yet to outline any guidance on what will replace the gas boiler in these new build homes. Air source and ground source heat pumps are a popular choice with
environmental experts if new build homes can be brought up to standards in terms of insulation, so is this announcement a signal that the boiler is on its way out? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. There are some possible scenarios in which the boiler industry could contribute to a greener future for the UK.
Replace natural gas network with hydrogen network
A hydrogen network could theoretically replace the natural gas network, meaning that many homes could continue to use boiler technology that they are familiar with and much of the infrastructure could remain. The key difference here is that it creates only water vapour and heat when
burned, i.e. no emissions. It is also very efficient as it contains nearly three times as much energy per kg as gasoline. A potential issue here, however, is the production of hydrogen does produce emissions, so a large scale carbon capture and storage system would be needed.
n March 13 the government outlined its annual Spring Statement, and within it Philip Hammond addressed recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). In order for the UK to have a chance
Electric boilers powered by renewable energy
Obviously, electric boilers already exist, but they come with high running costs. In addition, although they don’t produce carbon emissions when working, if powered by electricity generated by burning fossil fuels, they are still contributing to our greenhouse gases. However, electric boilers could be a viable alternative if we can power them with electricity generated from renewable sources. This can be done on a home by home basis, i.e. with solar PV panels generating electricity for each individual boiler, district heat networks powered with renewable energy and/or through access to a national grid which is powered by renewable energy.
Replace the fuel with a low carbon alternative
Off-grid homeowners are the ones with the most urgent concerns as the government continues to talk about the need to get rid of them, but with no clear alternatives as yet. However, the Oil-Fired Technical association, OFTEC, argues that there is a
way that off-grid homes can keep their boilers: Stage 1: incentivise the replacement of existing standard efficiency oil boilers with high efficiency condensing appliances through a nationwide boiler replacement programme. This should be supported by mandating heating controls such as functional timers and thermostats when new boilers are installed to further reduce energy use. Stage 2 from 2022: introduce a low carbon liquid fuel as a replacement to
kerosene.
threat facing the plumbing industry. The survey, which canvassed almost 400 industry professionals, also revealed one of the greatest challenges was a lack of consumer expenditure in the current tumultuous economy. However, despite these challenges it appears the plumbing community remains positive about the prospects for the sector. As many as 42% of plumbers think that the next 12 months are going to be better than last year. Respondents suggested the biggest contributing factor of this is the increase in
Trainingmatters A
recent survey by Hep20, the plastic push- fit plumbing manufacturer, has identified lack of skilled workers as the biggest
residential property development (40%) and the advancement of smart technology (26%). Likewise, many plumbing professionals are
still passionate about their industry, with 79% recommending plumbing as a future career. Indeed, there is an enormous body of evidence to suggest that plumbing is the career of choice for many young people. “It’s no surprise that the skills shortage
remains a significant concern in the industry and our survey only reinforces how large scale the problem still is,” commented Karen Stables, marketing manager, Wavin Hep2O. “Here at Hep2O, we actively work with key colleges and students to educate them on the benefits of the
June 2019
trade as a career path. Collaboration will be key for us an industry to tackle the problem effectively. “We know that plumbers want manufacturers to listen more and offer advice and support. That is why we are working closely with industry advocates and the wider plumbing community to understand what matters most to installer and ensure that we, as a business, are best placed to meet their evolving requirements. In fact, our survey showed that 73% of plumbers believe manufacturers could improve their level of communication and offer more support – our research helps to put us at the forefront of delivering on this.”
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