Select Committee · Business and Trade Committee

Decarbonising heat in homes

Status: Closed Opened: 2 Oct 2020 Closed: 18 May 2022 28 recommendations 11 conclusions 1 report

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has launched an inquiry examining the path to decarbonising heating in homes. The BEIS Committee will examine the Government’s ‘Buildings and Heat Strategy’, due in November, and investigate the policies, priorities and timelines which are needed to decarbonise heating in residential buildings and help ensure the UK … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh report - Decarbonising heat in homes HC 1038 3 Feb 2022 39 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
6 Recommendation Seventh report - Decarbonising heat in … Not Addressed

We recommend that the Government consider the Scottish Government’s approach of legislation for heat networks.

We recommend that the Government consider the Scottish Government’s approach of legislation for heat networks. If Ministers disagree with the approach taken in Scotland, an explanation in response to this report is required.

Government response AI summary
The Government states that the Future Homes Standard delivers on Net Zero commitments, that they have accelerated work on a full technical specification and plan to launch a full consultation in 2023 and introduce legislation in 2024, ahead of full implementation in 2025.
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Department for Business and Trade
11 Recommendation Seventh report - Decarbonising heat in … Not Addressed

We also call on Ministers to set out, in response to this report, what measures...

We also call on Ministers to set out, in response to this report, what measures are being considered to assist tenants who rent their homes in managing the transition to low carbon heating with their landlords; and what support might be put in place for housing associations and equivalent social … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on the ambition for heat pump installations and domestic production, without addressing support for tenants or housing associations regarding low carbon heating transition.
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Department for Business and Trade
17 Recommendation Seventh report - Decarbonising heat in … Not Addressed

We further recommend that the Government should convene the retail banking sector to encourage and...

We further recommend that the Government should convene the retail banking sector to encourage and facilitate low-cost and innovative lending products for consumers, and that public funds are used most widely in supporting lower income families with appropriate grants. Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government's response focuses on energy efficiency schemes, skills competitions, consumer advice tools, and general energy advice services, but does not address facilitating low-cost lending products or the use of public funds for grants to lower-income families, which was the recommendation's core point.
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Department for Business and Trade
28 Recommendation Seventh report - Decarbonising heat in … Not Addressed

We welcome the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced in the Heat and Buildings Strategy.

We welcome the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced in the Heat and Buildings Strategy. To ensure the success of the scheme, we recommend that in the delivery of the scheme, the Government must: 1) explain what lessons have been learnt from various failed past schemes and how this scheme will … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses the importance of climate and governance structures but does not address any of the specific recommendations regarding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
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Department for Business and Trade

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
16 Nov 2021 Ian Rippin · Microgeneration Certification scheme, Juliet Phillips · E3G, Marcus Shepheard · Climate Change Committee, Zoe Guijarro · Citizens Advice View ↗
8 Jun 2021 Caroline Bragg · Association for Decentralised Energy, Ed Dodman · Ombudsman Services, James Richardson · National Infrastructure Commission, Jenny Hill · Committee on Climate Change, Matthew Copeland · National Energy Action, Neil Kenward · Ofgem, Polly Billington · UK100, Stephen Knight · Heat Trust View ↗
20 Apr 2021 Emma Harvey · Coalition for the Energy Efficiency of Buildings, Juliet Phillips · E3G, Mark Barrett · University College London, Naomi Baker · Energy Saving Trust View ↗
16 Mar 2021 Angie Needle · Cadent Gas, David Renard · Local Government Associations’ Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board, George Day · Energy Systems Catapult, Greg Jackson · Octopus Energy, Michael Lewis · E.ON, Patrick Chauvin · Stonewater, Randolph Brazier · Energy Networks Association, Steve Keeton · Vaillant Group UK Ltd View ↗
9 Feb 2021 Craig Dyke · National Grid Electricity System Operator, Dr Richard Lowes · University of Exeter, Dr Will McDowall · University College London, Graham Halladay · Western Power Distribution, Gus McIntosh · SGN, Ian Rippin · Microgeneration Certification Scheme Service Company, Professor Janette Webb · University of Edinburgh, Professor Nick Eyre · University of Oxford View ↗

Who gave evidence

31 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Juliet Phillips · Senior Policy Advisor E3G 2
Angie Needle · Director of Strategy Cadent Gas 1
Caroline Bragg · Head of Policy Association for Decentralised Energy 1
Craig Dyke · Head of Strategy and Regulation National Grid Electricity System Operator 1
David Renard · Chair Local Government Associations’ Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board 1
Dr Richard Lowes · Research Fellow and Lecturer University of Exeter 1
Dr Will McDowall · Associate Professor University College London 1
Ed Dodman · Director of Regulatory Affairs Ombudsman Services 1
Emma Harvey · Programme Director Coalition for the Energy Efficiency of Buildings 1
George Day · Head of Markets, Policy and Regulation Energy Systems Catapult 1
Graham Halladay · WPD Operations Director Western Power Distribution 1
Greg Jackson · CEO and Founder Octopus Energy 1
Gus McIntosh · Director of Energy Futures SGN 1
Ian Rippin · Chief Executive Officer Microgeneration Certification scheme 1
Ian Rippin · Chief Executive Officer Microgeneration Certification Scheme Service Company 1
James Richardson · Chief Economist National Infrastructure Commission 1
Jenny Hill · Head of Buildings and International Action Committee on Climate Change 1
Marcus Shepheard · Lead Analyst Residential Buildings Climate Change Committee 1
Mark Barrett · Professor of Energy and Environmental Modelling University College London 1
Matthew Copeland · Policy Manager National Energy Action 1
Michael Lewis · CEO E.ON 1
Naomi Baker · Policy Officer Energy Saving Trust 1
Neil Kenward · Director for Strategy and Interim Director for Ma… Ofgem 1
Patrick Chauvin · Executive Director - Assets Stonewater 1
Polly Billington · Chief Executive Officer UK100 1
Professor Janette Webb · Professor of Sociology of Organisation University of Edinburgh 1
Professor Nick Eyre · Professor of Energy and Climate Policy University of Oxford 1
Randolph Brazier · Director of Innovation and Electricity Systems Energy Networks Association 1
Stephen Knight · Managing Director Heat Trust 1
Steve Keeton · Director of External Affairs Vaillant Group UK Ltd 1
Zoe Guijarro · Senior Policy Researcher Citizens Advice 1

Correspondence

16 letters
DateDirectionTitle
1 Mar 2022 To cttee Letter from the COP President on decarbonisation of domestic heat
9 Feb 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the COP26 President on the decarbonisation of heat in …
8 Sep 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing on policies for decarbonising hea…
22 Jul 2021 To cttee Letter from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury relating to policy relevant…
13 Jul 2021 From cttee Letter to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury requesting a Minister to atte…
13 Jul 2021 To cttee Letter from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on the request to attend th…
13 Jul 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Lo…
8 Jul 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Housing declining the invitation to give oral evid…
27 May 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chief Executive, Octopus Energy, to the Chair relating to decar…
13 May 2021 To cttee Letter from Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, to the Chair relating to decarbonisi…
27 Apr 2021 To cttee Letter from Greg Jackson, CEO, Octopus Energy to the Chair in follow up on poin…
13 Apr 2021 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair regarding the Green Homes Grant…
23 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from the Director of Strategy, Cadent Gas, to the Chair in follow up to …
23 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair of the Local Government Association Environment, Economy,…
23 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chief Executive of E.ON to the Chair in follow up to oral evide…
4 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State regarding the Green Homes Grant

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
15 Apr 2021 Informal meeting Private briefing · Virtual meeting