HEATING & PLUMBING
GETTING REALISTIC ABOUT HEAT PUMPS
There needs to be a concerted effort to refocus the narrative around heat pump installation as the UK falls behind other countries in a move towards more sustainable homes. BMJ talked to one merchant aiming to do just that.
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espite playing a key role in the UK Government’s sustainable energy drive and offering homeowners a chance to save money through reduced energy bills during a cost-of-living crisis, there is still a lot of scepticism around Heat Pump technology.
However, new research from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has revealed that the UK is 20% more dependent on gas imports than the rest of Europe due to the low take-up of heat pumps among homeowners. Further to this, the ECIU found that had the UK already installed the same number of heat pumps per person as Estonia, domestic gas prices would be 34% (107TWh) lower than last year.
Rik Pepper, MKM’s Head of Procurement for Plumbing, Heating & Bathrooms, says that it is important that headlines surrounding
‘failing’ Government schemes and negative press around non-compliant product purchases don’t mean that the technology is discounted by the UK public at this stage. Both the heating and plumbing sector and the Government need to combat these stories with relatable, understandable and actionable education, that everyone can understand. “At present, Heat Pumps are one of the biggest game changing technologies for sustainable home heating on the market. As with any product of this nature, there is an element of the unknown regarding its potential and as with any product where a mass roll-out is required, there is a learning curve for us all to adapt to,” he says. Pepper believes that a new £30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition designed to leverage £270 million private investment to boost manufacturing and supply
of heat pumps in the UK, is great news. He adds: “Plus, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers a £5,000 grant to anyone buying a heat pump, will be extended to 2028.” The Competition will be open to UK registered businesses who can apply for a grant of up to £15 million per project, to entice companies and people to investment in the manufacturing of heat pumps and strategically important components. According to the Government’s publicity on the Competition’s launch, it will be ‘critical to growing the heat pump market in the UK’. A statement from the government, released alongside the launch at the end of March, said: “Limited investment in heat pump and component manufacturing capacity, together with increased demand from Europe, has resulted in increased reliance on imports of heat pumps and their components.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2023
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