Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will extend the support available under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include installation of hybrid heat pumps.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports the transition away from fossil fuel heating to a low carbon alternative. Hybrid heat pumps are not currently eligible as the Government want to direct funding available to technologies that offer the greatest carbon savings, rather than those which would continue to involve the burning of fossil fuels for heating.
Heat pumps are suitable for the majority of UK homes, including off-gas grid and will play an important strategic role in decarbonising existing properties. The Government will keep our position on alternative heating technologies under review and make further assessments as supporting evidence develops.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Heat pump net zero investment roadmap, published on 5 April 2023, what recent assessment she has made of (a) the level of progress toward the target of at least 600,000 heat pumps a year being installed by 2028 and (b) the potential role of hybrid heat pumps in meeting that target.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government remains fully committed to supporting the transition to low-carbon heating. This includes the aim to grow the market to 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028.
A range of measures are supporting this, including schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Energy Company Obligation and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. From 2025, we expect heat pumps will become the primary heating technology for new homes under the Future Homes Standard.
The Government consulted on the role of hybrid heat pumps through the consultation on ‘Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency’ and will set out our response in due course.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to ensure that hybrid heat pumps are included in the Government’s target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government consulted on the role of hybrid heat pumps through the consultation on ‘Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency’ and will set out our response in due course.
Meanwhile, the Government is supporting targeted deployment of hybrid heating systems in defined circumstances in England through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Sustainable Warmth competition.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she plans to take to support the installation of hybrid heat pumps in homes identified as unsuitable for heat pumps.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government consulted on the role of hybrid heat pumps through the consultation on ‘Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency’ and will set out our response in due course.
Meanwhile, the Government is supporting targeted deployment of hybrid heating systems in defined circumstances in England through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Sustainable Warmth competition.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to encourage the take-up of hybrid heat pumps.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The recent consultation on Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency explored the role hybrid heat pumps could play in supporting the transition to low carbon heat. A response will be published in due course.
In the meantime, the Government is supporting targeted deployment of hybrid heating systems in defined circumstances through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Sustainable Warmth competition. Qualifying hybrid heat pump systems will also be included in the new Clean Heat Market Mechanism scheme from 2024.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has plans to consult on a biomass strategy in respect of off-grid heating.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 5 September 2023, during Parliamentary debates on the Energy Act, the Government committed to exploring the potential of renewable liquid fuels for heat by issuing a consultation within 12 months.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it remains her Department's policy to require owners of commercial premises to replace fossil fuel boilers with electric heating systems from 2024.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are carefully considering the feedback received from our 2021 consultation on phasing out fossil fuel heating systems for off gas grid businesses and public buildings and will publish our response in due course. The Government acknowledges that businesses and organisations require sufficient lead in time to plan installation of a replacement heating system and we will consider this ahead of publishing the consultation response.