Heat Pumps Today

25 CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai www.acrjournal.uk/heat-pumps must direct more resources towards consumer engagement to raise public awareness of decarbonisation, why it is so important and how it can be achieved, as well as incentivising uptake of certain technologies. Lack of qualified installers is also a huge stumbling block. According to the Heat Pump Association’s 2020 report ‘Building the installer base for net zero heating’ we will need significant growth in heat pump installers over the next 15 years, with around 69,500 installers required by 2035. At the moment, there are less than 1,000 MCS Certified heat pumps installers – nowhere near enough to meet demand. Growth within the installer base will predominantly come from existing heating installers, who already have experience of the sector, knowledge of heating systems C O MM E N T Simplified route to MCS certification MCS certification is the gold standard for renewables installers. It is recognised throughout the industry as a mark of excellence and demonstrates adherence to recognised industry standards; highlighting quality, competency and compliance. Recently, MCS has streamlined some parts of the application process to make it easier for renewable installers to get certified and the proposals are out for consultation now: New qualification-based route: applicants must demonstrate competency under the scheme and in the past an MCS assessment was required. However, securing this first installation as an uncertified installer is often difficult. The newly introduced route will recognise the practical assessments undertaken as part of an RQF qualification as a demonstration of competency, therefore no additional ‘onsite’ MCS assessment is required when following this route. Step-by-step support: as part of the RHITSS, MCS is providing a full package of free support to guide installers through each stage of their certification journey, including: • Understanding MCS standards and practical application • Installation site visits • Specific technical guidance • Developing a quality management system (QMS) • Downloadable resources, templates and one-on-one support. HEAT PUMPS IN NUMBERS net carbon emissions the UK has committed to producing by 2050. 0 95 percentage reduction in household heating emissions required to meet this target. 2025 year the Future Homes Standard will be implemented. From this date onwards, all new builds must be heated by low-carbon technologies. 2033 by this date, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has recommended that all new heating installations and replacements are low-carbon. and a secure customer base. Those are willing to embrace new technology and view upskilling and accreditation as a long- term investment rather than a quick-win will be best placed to prosper in the low- carbon future. Train for the future, not the scheme We’ve recently been working alongside MCS to deliver the Renewable Heat Installer Training and Support Scheme (RHITSS). This installer training scheme was initially set up to meet increased demand for renewable installers due to the roll out of the Green Homes Grant scheme. At the time of writing, the future of the Green Homes Grant looks precarious, however, this does not diminish the value of the RHITSS and similar schemes. The RHITSS offers the opportunity for experienced heating installers to upskill to heat pumps (or solar thermal), with up to 70% of the total costs covered, including technology training, pre-requisite courses and accreditation fees – worth around £1,300 per company. We recognise that cost is not the only barrier and many installers have been put of MCS certification in the past by the sheer amount of paperwork involved. The RHITSS aims to overcome this barrier with a package of support designed to guide candidates through each stage of their application, from helping you to secure your first installation to understanding MCS standards and form filling. Demand for heat pump installers will not disappear if funding is pulled from the Green Homes Grant, therefore the skills and certification you gain will not be wasted. Upskilling to this technology of the future is a fantastic option for building services installers with transferrable skills who can see beyond the short-term consumer initiatives to a low-carbon future. Web: https://www.rhitss.co.uk/