ACR Journal

February | March 2021 HEAT PUMPS 40 Mark Wilkins, Technologies and Training Director at Vaillant Group, discusses how heat pumps have evolved from being a little-known technology to taking centre-stage in the Government’s decarbonisation plans, why it’s worth making the transition to this market, what the journey could look like and how manufacturers can help. Heat pumps: Making a come back Volume 7 No.2 is expected to experience significant growth over the next few years. And with a shortage of qualified installers on the ground, there are ample opportunities for both traditional gas engineers and air conditioning engineers to diversify into this area and create new revenue streams. A green revolution A welcome announcement as part of the 10-point plan was an extension to the Green Homes Grant. When the scheme was first launched, we had voiced concerns over whether the ability to install heat pumps and other low-carbon heating technologies in sucient quantities would be limited by a shortage of installers. The extension to the deadline to March 2022, will allow more time for installers in the UK to get trained up and obtain MCS and TrustMark certifications. The Government has set a target to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028. To reach it, we will need around 26,000 qualified installers. At the moment, there are just under 1,000 MCS installers. Some media reports have suggested that all newly built homes will need to be heated without fossil fuel heating from 2025. At the same time, it is estimated that up to 345,000 new homes will be needed in England alone per year1. From the above figures, it’s clear that we will need far more skilled engineers to install the number of heat pumps needed. The requirement to fulfil this demand presents a major opportunity for installers to provide design, installation and commissioning services. With zero emission at point of use, installation businesses can oer heat pumps as the With a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028 as set out in the Government’s ‘10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’, demand for this technology is set to significantly rise over the next few years. The Government’s 10-point plan has indicated a turning point for the heat pump market, transforming what was once a niche technology into one which