Heat Pumps Today

April | May 2021 Heat pumps will supply a large portion of our heating in the future but at the moment, there is a huge shortage of trained heat pump installers. If the UK’s low carbon aims are to become a reality, heating installers must think long-term rather than rely on consumer initiatives to incentivise their upskilling. In the past, government schemes to encourage consumer uptake of renewable technologies have been short-lived, leaving heating installers feeling despondent and unwilling to engage with the low-carbon heating sector. However, with the clock ticking on our target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, this short- term approach to upskilling has left us in a precarious position, with nowhere near enough renewable heating installers to meet demand. We must stop using fossil fuels to heat our homes and move on to more sustainable technologies. There is no silver bullet solution; a combination of different technologies will be required to support full decarbonisation; however, heat pumps are expected to shoulder the lion’s share of the burden, particularly in new builds. Heat pump opportunities The Future Homes Standard introduces rigorous new energy efficiency standards to ensure that new build homes are ‘net zero ready’ by 2025. It sets out a clear pathway to net zero, starting with an interim uplift to Part L of the Building Regulations will lead to a 31% reduction in carbon emissions by next year. When the legislation is implemented in 2025, all new homes will be built to produce at least 75% less carbon emissions compared to current regulations, setting us firmly on the path to net zero by 2050. ‘Net zero ready’ homes built to the new standard will be heated with low-carbon technologies, highly insulated and energy efficient. Their only carbon emissions will be related to the electricity they use and as the grid moves towards full decarbonisation, they will require no further retro-fitting to meet net zero standards. Heat pumps offer the ideal solution here as they take advantage of widespread growth in renewable electricity generation. They are extremely energy efficient thanks to their exploitation of energy already accumulated in the environment, which accounts for around 70% of their energy usage, with the remainder provided by electricity. Regardless of the latest short-term consumer initiatives, the Future Homes Standard cements the role of heat pumps firmly in the low-carbon future, providing promising opportunities for heating installers. Changing attitudes The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has stated that 19 million heat pumps need to be installed by 2050, but we are a long way off this target. The government Don’t be ruled by consumer initiatives Griff Thomas, Managing Director of GTEC, discusses the threat presented by short-termism and encourages heating installers to take the long view when it comes to future-proofing their skills. 24 C O MM E N T