Heat Pumps Today

16 To reach net-zero, we must upskill installers and say no to fossil fuel boilers The UK has ambitious goals to reach net- zero carbon emissions by 2050 and was the first country to pass this into law in 2019. A commitment to cut carbon emissions so significantly is a great step towards building a more sustainable country, but immediate and widespread change across the whole economy will now be vital to achieve it. With around 40% of all carbon emissions coming from heat and hot T R A I N I N G water production, ending the UK’s reliance on fossil fuel boilers and investing in renewable heating options, like heat pumps, is an integral part of delivering on this commitment. In fact, the UK government has already set an ambitious target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, and the Committee for Climate change agrees that over 1 million heat pump installations per year by 2030 will be needed to meet the net-zero goal. Luckily, heat pump technology already exists, and is available for installation in homes up and down the country. Despite this, in 2021 only 50,000 heat pumps were installed compared to 1.6 million boilers. Clearly, there are still a number of challenges to overcome in order to increase installations, including upskilling more engineers to work with heat pumps. But with consumers willing to embrace a move away from gas, more can – and should – be done to boost uptake. Where is the UK on its journey to net-zero? In order achieve net-zero by 2050, better insulation in homes and an uptick in the roll out of heat pump installations are both vital. The latter is especially true for new build homes, as gas boilers will be banned in any new residential developments from 2025 in England and Scotland, and from 2023 in Wales. As the Committee on Climate Change has noted, air source heat pumps are a viable and cost-effective solution to decarbonising home heating. The Carbon Trust has even found that they have the potential to deliver CO 2 savings of up to 70% compared to conventional electric heating, and up to 65% compared to an A-rated gas boiler. Recent research from Mitsubishi Electric also reveals consumer willingness to invest in these types of technology. In fact, 57% of homeowners would spend up to £5,000 to on home renovations – even amid the cost- of-living crisis – and 72% of those would take an environmental and sustainable approach to the upgrades they make, particularly to keep heating bills down. This is in addition to government schemes, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which will encourage homeowners to choose more eco-friendly heating alternatives like heat pumps. For those already considering replacing their old central heating boiler with a modern, renewable heating system, this could be a welcome cost-saving opportunity. It will provide grant money to properties in England and Wales to support the costs of purchasing and installing these greener heating technologies. As we face challenging economic times in the UK, this will be especially important to ensure heat pump uptake continues despite rising costs and inflation. By Russell Dean, Residential Product Group Director at Mitsubishi Electric October | November 2022