PHAM NEWS | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025 4 News Review


Heating upgrade


pledge for 300,000 households


Continued from front cover story... The Energy and Utilities Alliance


(EUA), the trade body that has repeatedly called for the CHMM scheme to be scrapped, has welcomed the changes announced by the government. It estimates that the likely cost to the consumer has now been reduced from £682 million to £28 million. EUA chief executive Mike Foster


comments: “This is a big win for households across the country. We have consistently opposed the scheme because of the impact it would have on consumers replacing their boilers. We haven’t been the most popular kids on the block for speaking out, but we have helped save three million households around £650 million.” Speaking on behalf of Worcester


Bosch, CEO Carl Arntzen has been equally positive about the government’s willingness to review the level of potential fines to manufacturers: “We’re happy the minister has recognised the need to revise the CHMM and that further policy changes are required to increase heat pump demand and adoption in the UK. “We also welcome the announcements from DESNZ on the removal of some of the siting barriers for heat pumps and the extra funding being made available for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. We are hopeful these measures will enable more homeowners to view heat pumps as a realistic heating alternative.” Henrik Hansen, MD at Vaillant


Group UK, has also welcomed the government’s announcement about removing some of the potential barriers to heat pump installations: “It represents a


positive step forward addressing specific challenges felt by homeowners when considering the installation of a heat pump. By easing installation requirements, it addresses some of the barriers that have previously discouraged the adoption of this technology and shows what can be achieved by business and government working together.”


Additional funding Jan Rijnen, MD UK & Ireland for Baxi Heating, believes that the extra funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will further help to boost the market: “The announcement of additional funding is welcome, together with amending planning rules. We are committed to working with government to deploy practical and affordable solutions that help decarbonise homes, and we will continue to work with government to further improve the CHMM in the years ahead.” Tamsin Lishman, CEO of UK


heat pump manufacturer Kensa, also believes that the CHMM should remain under review: “Just like the Zero Emissions Mandate in the automotive sector, we expect the scheme will help drive down heat pump prices and increase installations. Reducing the initial level of penalties levied on boiler manufacturers strikes a sensible balance between getting the policy in place quickly and addressing concerns about possible market disruption. We urge the government to keep the scheme under scrutiny and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the scheme delivers on its intended objectives.”


New study highlights the benefits of hybrids


A new study has been published by Baxi which explores the potential for the wider use of hybrid heat pump systems in the UK. The heating solutions manufacturer commissioned Gemserv to produce the white paper – entitled ‘Unlocking the Power of Heat Pumps with Hybrid Installations’ – which examines the suitability of heat pumps deployed in hybrid configuration with new or existing gas boilers. It also highlights a series of


policy recommendations to help accelerate heat decarbonisation. These include consideration for eligibility under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, better representation of hybrid systems’ carbon saving benefits under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, and a rebalancing of electricity prices. The report suggests that hybrid


systems could provide a solution for properties with an existing combi boiler and no space for a hot


water cylinder. A further benefit is that they can be less disruptive to consumers as they can work with existing radiators and pipework and still produce significant carbon savings (52% lower carbon emissions than a standalone gas boiler and 72% lower emissions than an oil boiler). The paper also looks at the experience of other European countries that have incentivised the installation of hybrid systems as a transition technology. Speaking at the launch of the


white paper, Jeff House, external affairs and policy director at Baxi, explains: “Whilst heat pumps will be one of the key mass market drivers of decarbonised heat, we


have a responsibility to ensure a balanced and equitable transition in line with consumer needs. A hybrid system offers advantages as a transitional technology, not only in terms of overcoming some technical barriers to make them more cost effective in difficult to decarbonise homes, but also for energy system flexibility and resilience.” The launch event, which took


place in Westminster, included an in-depth panel discussion on hybrid systems with industry experts from Gemserv, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Heat Pump Association, and Passiv UK. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/125/03


Unregistered gas worker avoids jail


A man from Blackpool has been spared an immediate spell behind bars after his unsafe gas work put people’s lives at risk. Mehmet Kalyoncu, who


pleaded guilty on the first day of a proposed trial, was given a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for the same period. The 57-year-old, who was not


Gas Safe Registered, installed various gas appliances and pipework at an address in the seaside town. It was only when concerns were raised about the work to the Gas Safe Register that investigators visited the property and found gas fittings had been


left in an unsafe state. When the matter was then


referred to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for investigation, it became clear that Kalyoncu had previously been served with a prohibition notice to not undertake any further gas work unless he was Gas Safe registered. As part of its investigation,


HSE found that despite the earlier prohibition notice, Kalyoncu continued to carry out unregistered and unsafe gas work, putting members of the public at risk from unsafe gas fittings and appliances. Mehmet Kalyoncu, of no fixed


abode, pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulations 3(3) and 6(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. As well as the suspended sentence he was ordered to pay costs of £600 at a trial at Preston Crown Court. HSE principal inspector Caroline


Shorrock said: “Mehmet Kalyoncu showed a complete disregard to the safety of the public. He carried out unsafe gas work that put people at risk. The fact he had already been served with a notice to not do this unless Gas Safe registered makes this case even worse.”


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