Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
DESNZ lacks clear plan for decarbonising homes where heat pumps are impractical.
Conclusion
DESNZ has not yet worked out how it will support households to decarbonise their homes where heat pumps are not a practical solution. An estimated 20 per cent of homes might be exempt from the government’s plans to phase out new fossil fuel boilers in 2035. This includes those requiring energy efficiency upgrades or that lack space to install a heat pump, such as densely populated urban areas and blocks of flats. DESNZ intends to consult this year on how it can help people decarbonise their homes for those where a heat pump might not be the most appropriate solution. It considers heat networks to be the next major alternative technology for people living in these areas and intends to invest some £868 million in heat networks up to
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to provide further information on alternative low-carbon heating technologies for properties unsuitable for traditional heat pumps and has commissioned research on feasible approaches, which it intends to publish in Summer 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. be later than recommended by the former Committee, aligning with the publication of the research report from Summer 2025. The department will provide further information on which types of properties may not be suitable for traditional heat pumps operating at low flow temperatures, and what alternative low-carbon heating technologies may be most appropriate for this group. Departmental modelling indicates it would be feasible to install heat pumps in over 90% homes across the UK, based on analysis of their energy efficiency and fuse limit. Results from the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project show that heat pumps are widely suitable across the diverse range of housing archetypes present in the UK. Nonetheless, the department has been monitoring a range of different low carbon heating solutions that could be used in properties that would not be suitable for traditional low temperature heat pumps. These include high temperature heat pumps, air to air heat pumps, electric boilers, heat batteries and storage heaters. Off the gas grid, the department is supporting the installation of solid biomass systems in a small number of appropriate properties through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The department has commissioned further research that will look at the most feasible and cost-effective approaches to transitioning complex to decarbonise properties onto clean heating systems. The Department intends to publish that research report once it is available from Summer 2025.