With commitments to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, many in the industry are looking to a future beyond gas-powered heating systems. PBM takes a look at some of the current perspectives on offer from the sector.
Builders Merchants Federation
The BMF has responded to a recently-closed consultation seeking views on the Future Homes Standard aimed at decarbonising new homes. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government had invited views on reducing emissions from new homes built after 2025 by changing Part L (Fuel & Power) and Part F (Ventilation) of the Building Regulations.
The headline proposal is aimed at ending gas boiler connections in six years’ time in favour of heat pumps, heat networks and direct electric heating.
In its response to the MHCLG, the BMF said that heat pumps and heat networks are the logical choice — so long as they remain affordable — and careful consideration is given to the risk of overheating. However, ministers must not become obsessed with heat pumps because other low- or zero-carbon solutions are available. Hydrogen to replace burning natural gas and direct electric heating from renewable sources will suit different circumstances in new housebuilding.
Brett Amphlett, BMF Policy & Public Affairs Manager, said: “BMF members tell us the target is technically feasible and tightening the Building Regulations over time is realistically the only way to get there. But more stringent regulation means taxpayer-funded incentives are necessary to help transform markets and bring about behavioural change.”
The BMF canvassed views amongst members. Both heavyside and lightside businesses reiterated solid support for the ‘Fabric First’ argument. They said it is critical to get the basic structure and fabric right first, because the real issue to confront is the performance gap. Irrespective of how stringent standards are, if they are not being met, emissions will continue, say BMF members.
Brett also sounded a cautionary note, arguing that because Whitehall is “not ahead of the curve in educating the public”, there is a risk of scaremongers making unsubstantiated claims about costs. Tabloid newspapers have already carried stories on ripping out gas central heating from every home by 2050.
Worcester Bosch
Martyn Bridges, the manufacturer’s Director of Technical Communications and Project Management, has responded to the government’s recent £30m funding towards five UK projects investigating whether hydrogen is a viable option to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions. He said: “We welcome this indication of commitment by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to invest in technologies that will help decarbonise UK heating and hot water.
“Hydrogen has been explored and discussed by heating experts and scientists as a potential alternative to fossil fuels universally for quite a while. We at Worcester Bosch believe this to be a strong contender. Through funding localised projects and proposals such as the Acorn project in Aberdeen and Hynet scheme in Chester, we are hopeful about the prospect of hydrogen as a future heat source. We believe that this method is a very sensible approach and will prove the concept, and subsequently acceptance, of hydrogen.”
The main by-product of burning hydrogen gas is water, meaning that it is a carbon-free fuel source and in February, the company officially revealed a new prototype hydrogen-fired boiler. Fitting the same footprint as a current natural gas boiler and with a similar build to existing boilers, installers will already have most skills necessary to fit these products.
The Worcester prototype has been designed to also run effectively on natural gas, meaning that if hydrogen gas becomes a future reality, those who have a ‘hydrogen-ready’ boiler can simply convert to hydrogen without the need for an entirely new heating system.
Baxi Heating
Baxi Heating has called on the Government to mandate hydrogen-ready boilers for all new gas boiler installations by 2025, following the launch of a report from a new industry co-operative group (which the manufacturer is a signatory to), the Hydrogen Taskforce. The company is also calling for £1bn of investment to prepare the UK for hydrogen production, distribution and storage at scale, which will be necessary if the UK is to develop a hydrogen future and meet Net Zero.
Jeff House, Head of External Affairs, said: “Baxi and others in the heating industry are preparing to deliver clean heating and play our part in tackling climate change. From the consumer’s perspective, hydrogen will offer everything they value from their current heating solution, namely instantaneous heat and hot water delivered by the existing gas network.”
Baxi has already developed a hydrogen boiler concept which can be initially installed to operate on natural gas then converted quickly and easily at a future date, and Jeff continued: “Hydrogen offers a straightforward and practical solution for the consumer and we urge government to prioritise it in its future plans.
“Given the current UK domestic gas boiler market is around 1.6m units per year, a mandate that all boiler installations from 2025 are ‘hydrogen-ready’ would mean that a significant proportion of the existing housing stock is prepared for a future changeover.”
To read the Hydrogen Taskforce report, The Role of Hydrogen in delivering Net Zero, go to https://www.baxiheating.co.uk/the-future-of-heat
Boiler Plan
Ian Henderson, MD of Cramlington-based installation firm Boiler Plan, has written to Climate Change Minister Lord Duncan warning “millions could be plunged into fuel poverty” if the government embarks on a proposed strategy to ban all domestic gas boilers unless there is a viable, affordable and practical alternative plan in place.
Mr. Henderson said: “The industry accepts the need to decarbonise the UK’s domestic heating, but there must produce a viable, realistic strategy which is both practical and affordable as well as ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place.
“The government must also offer extensive support to both homeowners and the heating industry who will inevitably be the ones given the responsibility of swapping every gas boiler in the country. If these critical issues are not thought through properly, millions of people could potentially be left in fuel poverty and saddled with huge costs.
“The government needs to ensure it works in partnership with the heating industry if it is to achieve its stated aims otherwise there is a very real danger that the resulting strategy will lead to an unworkable solution.”
