INDUSTRY NEWS


now more important than ever to work together and use every available energy vector in the push to achieve our low carbon objectives.”


The Building Engineering Services Association


(BESA) chief executive David Frise said: “This is welcome detail that confi rms some of the Government’s earlier commitments. However, delivering on the country’s wider low carbon pledges now requires a concerted focus on training and skills. “Switching the industry from traditional fossil fuel solutions to more renewable and low carbon systems requires a monumental programme of reskilling and recruitment,” he said. “It also has major supply chain implications.


We are not just talking about single pieces of technology here – installing a heat pump (or any fossil fuel alternative) calls for a certain approach to projects and requires installers to consider the building as a complete system. “Someone who has spent their career installing


boilers cannot just turn around and start putting in heat pumps without detailed training to understand the nuances of low temperature heating including improving building insulation.” Chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance


(EUA), Mike Foster, said: “The grant hardly sets the world alight and is insuffi cient to the scale of the challenge we face in terms of reaching Net Zero. “It subsidises 30,000 heat pumps being installed each year and is well short of the support that is


needed to get to 600,000 heat pumps installed each year by 2028. I suspect hydrogen-ready boiler installations will be far greater than that number by 2028, suggesting that consumers have made their choice.


“But that choice, between heat pumps or hydrogen-ready


boilers, is one that they should have.” Mr Foster is also concerned with the plight of those in fuel


poverty. “The £5,000 grant only pays half the cost of a heat pump, so those in fuel poverty will see no warmth from the Government’s generosity; instead, it is middle-class bung for people who were probably going to fi t a heat pump anyway.” Isaac Occhipinti, director of External Aff airs, Hot Water Association (HWA), said the HWA is disappointed the Strategy ignores the signifi cant potential of hot water storage and heating. “Unfortunately, it fails to recognise the untapped potential of hot


water storage estimated to be around seven times the capacity of the UK’s largest pumped hydro power facility instead, focusing on the heat source and forgetting the rest of the heating and hot water system. “There is much excitement around the role that energy storage technologies can play to help accommodate more, low to zero carbon energy sources into the UK’s generation infrastructure, however, relatively little attention has been paid to hot water cylinders. “Most currently available low carbon heating solutions require


a hot water cylinder. We are in desperate need of a strategy to stop the decline in hot water storage population in the UK. If the Government is serious, about decarbonisation then we need to encourage homeowners, at the very minimum, to keep their hot water cylinder in order to future proof their heating system and maximise the UK’s energy storage potential.


Inbrief


The Industrial & Commercial Heating Equipment Association (ICOM) has advised designers, specifi ers and installers of water fi ttings that they needn’t only focus only WRAS approved products to achieve compliance with UK Water Regulation 4. www.icom.org.uk


Flogas Britain has partnered Baxi Heating to bring UK businesses a turnkey liquid gas solution. The partnership means off -grid companies looking to switch to liquid gas from oil, solid fuel or electricity can benefi t from a seamless start to fi nish transition. www.fl ogas.co.uk


As part of its ongoing commitment to making the transition to a low carbon future easier, Vaillant has launched a Customer Experience Centre – which was unveiled in an offi cial opening attended by Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Helen Whately. www.vaillant.co.uk


With the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the UK water heating market saw a sharp decline of around -13% but the latest report from AMA Research estimates a return to growth in 2021. www.amaresearch.co.uk


L-R Karen Boswell, Mark Wilkins, Russell Deane, Graham Russell and Shaun Edwards


“When considering a heat pump there are many factors to assess which are not considered here, such as the property’s suitability. A home may need to be adapted to accommodate a heat pump, such as resizing radiators and making space for hot water cylinders, which carry cost implications. Therefore, the proposed grants may help with the cost to purchase a heat pump, but there will still be costly investment required for existing properties. “Whilst it is encouraging to see hydrogen is still on the agenda and is referred to within the Strategy, it is a shame to see that a decision around hydrogen won’t be made until fi ve years from now. With hydrogen-ready boilers already successfully trialled, they could be a strong alternative to fossil fuel boilers on the market today – yet this strategy seems to omit them. Mark Wilkins, technologies and training director from


Vaillant said: “Time is of the essence when it comes to decarbonisation, and heat pumps are the best way to decarbonise today. Hydrogen will be a low carbon solution,


but more tests need to be carried out before we can roll out hydrogen for heating. In the future, there will be a mix of both hydrogen-fuelled boilers and heat pumps as there is no silver bullet to lowering carbon emissions. “The number of heat pump installers needs to increase substantially in order to support the ambitions laid out and the Government’s levelling up agenda. Government must take the necessary steps to recognise and incentivise those wishing to embark on the necessary training to become low carbon installers. Graham Russell, managing director of heating and


cooling systems manufacturer, Viessmann, said: “We are delighted the Strategy encompasses a mix of policies to promote heat pumps, hydrogen heat, heat networks and energy effi ciency as well as new funding giving the industry a framework to push forward with innovative solutions. We think it is key that the new schemes announced as part of the Strategy should incrementally drive low carbon heat markets further.”


SBS Sheffi eld is offi cially open and with additional branches in Cambridge and High Wycombe opening soon, the SBS network will consist of 17 branches which are situated across the UK. sbs.co.uk


As part of a strategic Baxi Specifi cation team restructure, Anthony Watton has been promoted to head of residential specifi cation. This new role will oversee the Baxi Assure product and service portfolio, off ered to social housing, new build developer and contractor customers. www.baxi.co.uk


Honeywell is collaborating with UK-based company Futraheat, for a heat pump technology that aims to help industry radically reduce its carbon emissions cost-eff ectively. www.honeywell.com


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