PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026 Renewable Energy 19


Taking the practical approach to rural heating


Duncan Carter from Calor explores the role installers can play in helping rural households choose lower-carbon heating solutions suited to their properties, rather than relying on a one- size-fi ts-all approach.


questions over the future of policies introduced by their predecessors, and the Warm Homes Plan is no exception. Launched earlier this year,


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the £15 billion programme aims to upgrade millions of homes, helping tackle fuel poverty, lower energy bills and support the UK’s wider 2030 net zero ambitions. While it is too early to know whether the new administration will accelerate, adapt or simply continue the programme as planned, the roll- out is expected to commence in early 2027.


Mixing it up


Whatever changes may lie ahead, the challenges facing the Warm Homes Plan remain the same. The Plan places signifi cant emphasis on heat pumps as a key decarbonisation technology. However, for many of the UK’s 2 million rural and off -grid homes, achieving lower-carbon heating will require a broader mix of solutions tailored to individual property characteristics and customer circumstances. For many older properties, integrating a heat pump into existing infrastructure requires signifi cant insulation, electrical and system upgrades. This can leave customers not only facing disruption but high costs, with some retrofi t projects exceeding £20,000. While heat pumps will undoubtedly play an important part in the UK’s decarbonisation journey, they are not a blanket approach. This is where installers have a big role to play.


BY NUMBERS


2027 2m


20%


Around a fi fth of homes are thought to be


unsuitable for heat pumps 84%


BioLPG can reduce emissions by up to 84% compared to conventional LPG


new government always brings fresh priorities, new ministers, and inevitably,


Duncan Carter Corporate affairs manager at Calor


The Warm Homes Plan will roll out in early 2027


Alternative path As the Plan evolves, heating engineers will be increasingly relied upon to help homeowners navigate decarbonisation, balancing government ambition with the practical realities of individual off -grid properties. Prior to launching the Plan, the government acknowledged that around 20% of homes are unsuitable for heat pumps. For these properties, alternative low- carbon heating solutions will be essential if the UK is to meet its decarbonisation ambitions. One option is BioLPG. Every existing LPG-heated home is compatible with BioLPG. Made from a mix of sustainable, renewable biological feedstocks and waste materials, BioLPG is an alternative fuel that can reduce emissions by up to 84% compared with conventional LPG, while producing signifi cantly lower particulate, NOx and SOx emissions than heating oil.


The number of rural and off -grid homes in the UK


Good chemistry Beyond its environmental benefi ts, one of BioLPG’s biggest advantages is that, despite being derived from renewable sources, it is chemically identical to traditional propane or butane. As a result, it’s fully compatible with existing LPG heating systems, meaning the transition to BioLPG is immediate. With no changes required to boilers, pipework or controls, BioLPG allows installers to off er their customers an immediate, low-disruption route to lower-carbon heating and help ensure that rural households are not left behind in the energy transition.


For households whose properties are suitable for a smaller heat pump installation, a hybrid heating system can off er an eff ective way to maximise day-to-day electrical effi ciency and reduce day-to-day running costs.


Successful decarbonisation will depend not only on the


availability of new technologies, but on ensuring households have access to a range of practical and aff ordable options. A technology- neutral approach allows consumers and installers to choose the solution that delivers the greatest emissions reduction for each property.


Hybrid heating systems – as the name suggests – combine an air source heat pump with a boiler, powered by fuels such as LPG or BioLPG. Already widely adopted across Europe, they have become a cornerstone of the traditionally gas-reliant Dutch government’s strategy to decarbonise domestic heating. Hybrid heating systems can help accelerate emissions reductions today while supporting the longer-term growth of electrifi ed heating. Rather than waiting for every property to become suitable for full electrifi cation, hybrids off er a pragmatic route that refl ects the realities of the existing housing stock. When combined with BioLPG they off er an enduring rather than transitional technology. The heat pump provides the primary source of heating, with the boiler supporting during colder weather or periods of peak demand. The dual set- up is particularly benefi cial in larger, off -grid properties, where installing a standalone heat pump can require an upgrade to a three-phase electricity supply – costing anywhere from £3,000 to £8,000 for a standard connection, or upwards of £15,000, where more extensive local grid reinforcement is needed.


Importantly, hybrid systems shouldn’t be viewed as an alternative to electrifi cation, but as a stepping stone towards it.


Practical guidance The role of the installer is an evolving one. It is no longer about just installing the latest technology but helping homeowners understand which


low-carbon solution is best suited to their property. This means looking beyond policy headlines and assessing the practical realities of each home, from its age and construction to the existing heating system. In many cases, a heat pump may be the right choice. But where full electrifi cation is not practical or aff ordable, installers should feel confi dent presenting alternative pathways that allow customers to begin reducing emissions without unnecessary cost or disruption.


Whether that’s a heat pump, LPG, BioLPG or a hybrid heating system, the priority should always be matching the technology to the property rather than pursuing a one-size-fi ts-all approach.


Road ahead


A successful heat transition won’t be achieved through policy alone. It will depend on the expertise of installers and their ability to balance government ambition with the realities of the British housing stock. The future of heating must balance sustainability with practicality and fl exibility, ensuring no rural household or business is excluded from the transition to net zero. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/42


CUT TO THE CHASE


 Installers must balance decarbonisation targets with property constraints


 BioLPG can reduce emissions without replacing existing LPG systems


 Retrofit market challenges require whole-system thinking: fabric, heat loss, behaviour and heat source


 Technology-neutral solutions could better suit Britain’s diverse housing stock


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