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Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Decarbonising home heating

Status: Closed Opened: 22 Mar 2024 Closed: 29 May 2024 16 recommendations 23 conclusions 1 report

Home heating made up 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. In October of the same year, the Government published its Heat and Buildings Strategy, which has the ambition to end the installation of new fossil fuel boilers by 2035. It also commits to growing the supply chain for heat pumps to a …

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonising home heating HC 653 26 May 2024 39 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
6 Conclusion Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonising h… Rejected

Set out how to test hydrogen for heating across all property types for informed decisions.

DESNZ’s work to test hydrogen for heating has been beset with problems, with key trials cancelled. DESNZ has committed to deciding on the role of hydrogen for heating in 2026. Major trials intended to support its decision have been cancelled or delayed due to local opposition and insufficient supply of …

Government response. The government explicitly disagrees with the recommendation to set out decommissioning plans by June 2025, stating that a full assessment will require more time due to the complexity and uncertainty of future energy scenarios.
HM Treasury
34 Recommendation Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonising h… Rejected

Uncertainty surrounds future of gas networks and significant decommissioning costs.

Hydrogen UK and the National Audit Office reported that there was also uncertainty over the future role of the gas networks, if it is decided that hydrogen has a limited role and electricity becomes the main energy source.69 This included questions over who will pay for the networks to either …

Government response. Government explicitly rejects the recommendation for a full assessment on the future of gas networks and decommissioning costs, stating it requires more time, while acknowledging ongoing work to understand scenarios and funding.
HM Treasury
35 Recommendation Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonising h… Rejected

DESNZ possesses limited understanding of future gas network decommissioning costs and feasibility.

Although DESNZ clarified that gas networks will be needed for some considerable time, it accepted that it needed to increase its work to look at future decommissioning. The NAO found that DESNZ’s work on the costs and feasibility of gas network decommissioning was in the initial stages, and its understanding …

Government response. The government explicitly rejects the recommendation for a full assessment of gas network decommissioning costs and feasibility, stating it would require more time. However, it acknowledges the importance and describes ongoing work with regulators and industry to understand decommissioning needs …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
24 Apr 2024 Ben Rimmington · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, David Capper · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Jeremy Pocklington CB · Ministry of Defence View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
8 May 2024 — Correspondence from Richard Warren, Director of Public Affairs, The Kensa Group…