Heat Pumps Today

Transforming Britain’s heating by putting the Installer first The UK government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy report published last autumn highlights how the UK will decarbonise our homes, and our commercial, industrial and public sector buildings, as part of setting a path to net zero by 2050. Heat pumps oer an important alternative to heating homes with gas boilers that so many consumers have come to rely upon. The journey to reaching the ambitious goal set out by Government will involve the participation of manufacturers, installers as well as customers in homes across the country. The HPA Association last month published a report called Transforming Britain’s Heating – A Pathway to Heat Pumps which looks at ways to drive the debate around the decarbonisation of heat. In order to meet the target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, we believe installers will play a crucial role in ensuring installation targets are met. Our top recommendation is the creation of a highly-skilled heat pump installer workforce – to ensure that today’s 130,000 strong fossil fuel boiler installers are accommodated on the journey – utilising their considerable skills and experience for heat pump installations. We also believe that a long-term, predictable policy framework for domestic heat decarbonisation is required to ensure that investors feel secure enough to invest in heat pump manufacturing, ensuring CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai www.acrjournal.uk/heat-pumps 07 H P A U P D A T E that jobs are created across Britain, driving home the benefits of the coming market change. We also look at market development and reform focusing on the imbalance created by the imposition of Environmental and Social Obligations on electrified heat. Finally, we recognise the need for closing the gap in the financing of the transition, which must be addressed partly by cost-down within the heat pump market, and the implementation of subsidy schemes, such as the recently released Boiler Upgrade Scheme. A joint e ort between industry and Government One thing we are keen to stress is the vision of industry and Government working together in tandem. This is not a list of demands from one party to the other. I was proud to announce that the Heat Pump Association is launching a new membership category for installers. Delivering on the very first pillar mentioned in the document, we believe that the installer should be placed at the heart of this journey – 26,000 will be needed fully trained by 2028 alone. To achieve this, installers must be treated as the important cog they are – not as an afterthought. Our new membership category will help to deliver this, oering them a voice to help shape the industry, alongside the great policy work the HPA has been delivering over the past couple of years. Launch of a new membership category for installers We have created a new membership category at an aordable rate for all heating installers. To ensure new members are cohesively brought into the HPA, we will be creating a dedicated Installer Group within the association, one which will ensure that views are heard in a way which can be acted upon by the wider group. Regular newsletters, briefings on the heat pump market, government consultations, and regular networking opportunities will all be provided. This membership category underpins not only the vision and commitment we have set out to Government for transforming British heating but also the work we have done previously with our launch of training courses specifically towards heat pump installation. Installer's crucial role in bring us to net zero Heating installers will play a major role in delivering the transition to heat pumps and mentoring younger installers to become the workforce of the future. Training courses, qualifications, support schemes, apprenticeships, and clear requirements for installers will all feature in creating a high-skill heat pump installer workforce. Many of the building blocks are already in place to enable this transition, and we believe the key to success now lies in close Partnership between Industry and Government. Phil Hurley, Chairman of the Heat Pump Association Best in class support for you and your customers All NIBE Pro installers have a dedicated, in-house support team ready and waiting to offer assistance. Our experienced engineers provide advice, tools, training, guidance and even physical site visits. As a NIBE Pro installer you’ll also have access to our new Pro portal, best in class rewards scheme, plus a broad range of consumables and ancillaries. WebPortal • eLearning •WebShop •RewardsPoints Support &Training •Consumables &Ancillaries Visit our website to find out more today. ALTOGETHER BEST IN CLASS NIBE.CO.UK