Putting further pressure on future sales of gas boilers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has published a new report that argues that gas boilers should only be sold from 2025 if they are able to burn hydrogen, and sales should be banned entirely by 2033. The independent body which advises the government on climate change policies has also called for a million heat pumps a year to be installed by 2030, with a total of 5.5 million heat pumps systems to have been fitted within the next 10 years (of which 2.2million will be in new build homes).
The proposals are contained in a 1000 page report, ‘The Sixth Carbon Budget – the Path to Net Zero’, which sets out how the country can reach the goal of being zero carbon by 2050. The CCC argues that the next decade must deliver decisive progress on climate change and that UK electricity production must be zero carbon within 15 years, with off-shore wind generating 70% of power.
The wide ranging report also acknowledges the potential use of hydrogen as an alternative heating source. While discounting the economics of fully converting the gas grid to hydrogen, the CCC suggests that it could play a role in regional grids, particularly in areas near industrial clusters. Hybrid heat pumps, operating with a hydrogen boiler, could also be a viable solution in certain areas.
With the aim of minimising costs and disruption, the CCC advises that the scrappage of products could be minimised by setting out a timetable that is based on existing technology lifetimes. The government is advised that future policies must make low-carbon heat affordable and cost-competitive by targeting cost reduction, rebalancing policy costs and increasing funding. It will be essential to assess how the costs of all forms of heating – electric, hydrogen, hydrogen-hybrid and heat networks – can be made fair, and protect vulnerable and low-income households.
The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), which represents the interests of manufacturers and suppliers, has issued a cautious welcome to the report, suggesting that a more collaborative approach will be needed before the proposed low carbon targets can be achieved.
HHIC director Stewart Clements comments: “As an industry we are committed to helping and supporting the UK reach our carbon reduction targets. However, we must proceed with caution. Having ambition is positive but we have to be prepared for what happens if we can’t meet that ambition. The accelerated timelines will be very difficult to achieve in practice. BEIS needs to urgently engage with the heating industry to fully understand what we can start to deliver, and what we will need to put into place.
“For example, more work is going to be needed on reskilling the workforce and developing supply chains. Red tape will need to be reduced to allow greater participation in government support schemes like the RHI and Green Homes Grant. If a collaborative approach is adopted the heating industry is confident it can reduce emissions to meet our net zero goals.”
