Construction National

GSHPA welcomes call for urgent action on the electrification of heat

The GSHPA has welcomed the CCC’s strong support for the electrification of heat, contained in its 2023 Progress Report to Parliament. Despite the Government’s positive rhetoric and targets, the fact remains that the UK heat pump market is nowhere near the trajectory needed to deliver 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. The CCC is right to note that the UK Government to date has avoided “big, impactful decisions,” and to emphasise the need for a complete policy framework to be put in place as soon as possible.

Laura Bishop (pictured), Chair of the GSHPA, said: “Anyone who works in the UK ground source heat pump sector, will recognise the picture painted by the Climate Change Committee. It’s very striking that the basic thrust of the report, that the UK Government is off target, too many confused and confusing policy messages on heat pumps, nowhere near enough progress on supply chains and training, and the need for an ongoing national awareness campaign, all chimes with the daily experience of our members. Ministers need to really listen to these concerns now and finally put in place robust policy measures to underpin the transition to our low carbon heat future. Far more Government action is needed to support the development of a true mass market for heat pumps in the UK.”

GSHPA welcomes the CCC’s call once again for the rebalancing of energy bills to be made permanent so that bill levies do not favour gas over electricity, their unambiguous call for hydrogen to be ruled out for heating any off-gas grid property, and the clear position that no new building should be connected to the gas grid. We particularly welcome the proposal that pushing forward with heat electrification should be the default choice, and that the Government should affirmatively embrace electrical heat now as widely as possible.

For further information visit gshp.org.uk