Decarbonising home heating isn’t just about picking the right technology – it’s about having the people ready to deliver it, says OFTEC’s Malcolm Farrow, who urges investment in training and skills.
As we wait for the government to publish its long-anticipated Warm Homes Plan, which is expected to set out the roadmap for decarbonising domestic heating, much of the conversation continues to centre on the technologies that will help us get there. Yet in the rush to pin down the ‘how’, we risk overlooking a fundamental piece of the puzzle: who will install these solutions.
Firstly, with regards to the ‘how’, the Labour government has indicated it will continue the previous administration’s strategy of electrification. Whilst we agree this is a sensible approach for more modern buildings, rural homes are often older and less energy efficient. For many households in these areas, the high upfront costs and technical challenges of retrofitting heat pumps make them an impractical solution without significant financial support.
That’s why we need to reframe and focus on delivering the best outcome for both consumers and our net zero targets. This means recognising other technologies, such as renewable liquid fuels, which offer a more practical solution for many off-gas grid buildings. It’s not about ideology. The climate doesn’t care how we reduce our carbon emissions.
There’s another problem with a strategy focussed solely on technology, which is that the greatest technology in the world is meaningless if there’s no one to install or maintain it.
Mind the installer gap
One of the most pressing challenges to deploying low carbon heating at scale is the shortage of skilled installers. It’s been discussed for years under successive governments. Multiple policies have been put in place to tackle the issue, such as the Apprenticeship Levy, but concerningly the problem is still just as prevalent.
By focussing solely on electrification and heat pumps, the skills shortage becomes more acute as we will need a higher number of installers trained on a new technology. To put this in context, to meet the government’s target for heat pump adoption over the next few years we will need to be installing nearly a million units per year. The current number is under 100,000. We therefore need tens of thousands more trained technicians. This shortfall cannot be filled overnight.
Focussing solely on heat pumps, therefore, isn’t just technologically restrictive, it risks being logistically unfeasible. That’s where renewable liquid fuels come into play. These fuels can be used within the existing heating system, which means there is already a well established network of trained technicians in place. Why would we not take advantage of this and ease the burden on a training system already under pressure?
That’s why at OFTEC, our approach is both technology and training neutral. Our network of training centres delivers courses not just for liquid fuels, but also for heat pumps. We want technicians to be fully equipped to install a range of different solutions, which in turn will speed up the deployment of low carbon heating systems in the home.
So, if we’re serious about reaching net zero, training must not be treated as an afterthought or a problem to solve further down the line. We need to focus on three key areas:
1. Attracting new talent to the industry
Before we start training, we of course need people to train. The heating industry, like many other technical trades, is going through a significant shift. We currently have an ageing workforce with many nearing retirement, alongside a shortfall of new people entering the sector to take their place. We can’t ignore this current landscape. Focussing on a range of technologies gives heating businesses greater flexibility and more incentives for people to enter the profession.
We also need to promote apprenticeships more as a route into the industry. The government needs to show that the heating sector, particularly off-gas grid, has a vibrant future full of opportunity. On a practical level, Labour has already committed to reform the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy to give more flexibility to employers and incentivise taking on apprentices. This is certainly a step in the right direction.
2. Making training accessible and funded
The government’s Heat Pump Training grant has been hugely important in driving the uptake of heat pump training. We’ve seen this reflected in the application rates for our own heat pump courses. However, the inconsistency of the funding has made it difficult for smaller businesses and sole traders to plan ahead and commit budget. The government needs to deliver comprehensive, and consistent, long term support for industry training.
Alongside this, because the government has been somewhat unclear on its plans off-grid, many businesses and technicians are being left in limbo. Is there a future for liquid fuels? Will there be a market for heat pumps? Without answers to these questions, there is sometimes a hesitancy for technicians to invest in training or recruitment.
3. Upholding high standards for consumers
Training doesn’t stop after a technician has completed the course. It’s an ongoing process as technologies evolve and new regulations come through. We’re going to see substantial changes in the heating systems we use in our homes over the coming years and it’s vital that consumers have confidence in these technologies, or adoption will falter. Regular servicing and maintenance is therefore key with consumers given honest, impartial advice.
OFTEC’s registration scheme encompasses all of the main off-grid heating technologies from liquid fuels, solid fuels to renewables. The infrastructure is already in place and can align with a multi technology approach to decarbonisation. By focussing solely on electrification and heat pumps, there’s a real risk that rural communities will be left behind with a too-limited range of technical solutions and a shortage of trained installers and technicians to support them.
For successful decarbonisation, the government needs to modify its currently narrow electrification focussed approach and focus more on the practicalities and logistics of delivering these solutions. Training undoubtedly needs to be at the heart of this discussion.
