Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to provide a definition of hard-to-treat properties that are not suitable for conversion to low temperature heating technologies such as heat pumps.

BEIS modelling on homes’ energy efficiency and electrical connections suggests it would be feasible to install heat pumps in around 80% of off gas grid homes, potentially rising to around 90% with fabric upgrades. The Department’s analysis indicates that most commercial and public buildings that use fossil fuel heating systems off the gas grid are technically suitable for a heat pump. For buildings on the gas-grid the Department estimates that around 90% will also be suitable for a heat pump.

Off-grid properties that cannot reasonably practicably install a heat pump will have a viable choice of high performing, commercially available alternative heating technologies that are consistent with net zero, such as high temperature heat pumps or solid biomass.