Heat Pumps News: page 6
- May 2024
Public Accounts Committee publishes report on decarbonising home heating
The Committee of Public Accounts says progress on heat pump installations falls short of the government's ambition of 600,000 a year by 2028, with costs and confusion holding households back.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme marks second anniversary with applications up 93% year-on-year
Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rose 93% in April 2024 compared with April 2023, as the scheme marked its second anniversary with more than £148 million paid out.
Ideal Heating introduces HP290 heat pump
Ideal Heating has announced the HP290, its first domestic air source heat pump to use R290 refrigerant, claiming a seasonal coefficient of performance rating of over 500 per cent.
Survey finds UK public favours gas over heat pumps
A YouGov survey for the Energy and Utilities Alliance has found that only 10% of people would consider a heat pump as a replacement for a gas boiler, while about half would prefer hydrogen added to the existing gas supply.
- April 2024
E3G publishes report on creating a UK heat pump mass market
E3G has published a report setting out the routes to market and financial offers it says are needed to underpin a mass market for heat pumps in the UK.
Visit a Heat Pump scheme officially launched
Nesta launched its nationwide Visit a Heat Pump service on 11 April 2024, letting householders book a visit to see a working heat pump in a nearby home before deciding on one.
EHPA publishes its annual report for 2023
The European Heat Pump Association has published its annual report for 2023, setting out what the Brussels-based industry body describes as the year's highlights, challenges and hot topics.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications more than doubled year on year after grant increase
Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme more than doubled in April 2024 compared with April 2023, after the grant rose from £5,000 to £7,500, according to figures cited by industry.
ivie publishes Heat Pumps 101 guide
ivie has published Heat Pumps 101, the fourth and final free guide in its Future of Energy series, answering common questions about how heat pumps work and whether they suit a home.
New Welsh Government Warm Homes programme launched
A new Welsh Government Warm Homes programme began on 1 April 2024, shifting support towards low carbon measures such as heat pumps and solar panels, as Nest published its 2023-24 annual report.
- March 2024
Consultation launched on postponing Clean Heat Market Mechanism to 1 April 2025
The Government has opened a consultation on postponing the Clean Heat Market Mechanism to 1 April 2025, while confirming changes to Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility rules.
DESNZ publishes Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation outcome
DESNZ has set out the outcome of its Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation, keeping the EPC requirement but dropping the rule that loft and cavity wall insulation recommendations must be resolved first.
Nesta publishes report on future subsidies for heat pumps
Nesta has published a report on improving heat pump subsidies and welcomed the removal of an insulation condition from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, while warning that a delay to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism could unsettle the market.
Panasonic announces Big Aquarea T-CAP M Series heat pump
Panasonic has announced the Big Aquarea T-CAP M Series heat pump, offered in 20 to 30 kW sizes and scalable to 300 kW in cascade with up to 10 units connected.
HPA reports 166% increase in qualified heat pump installers
The Heat Pump Association reports that the number of people completing eligible heat pump installer training rose 166 per cent in 2023, from just under 3,000 in 2022 to close to 8,000.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme allowance increased to £7,500 per heat pump installation
MCS has said the Boiler Upgrade Scheme allowance has recently been increased to £7,500 per air source and ground or water source heat pump installation in England and Wales.
Government delays Clean Heat Market Mechanism to April 2025
The government has delayed the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, the scheme that would have fined boiler makers for missing heat pump sales targets, to a proposed April 2025 start.
Nesta heat pump suitability mapping project begins
Nesta began a project in March 2024 to map how suitable different types of heat pump are for neighbourhoods across Great Britain, aiming to build an impartial dataset for local heat planning.
- February 2024
Kensa launches Shoebox NX Ground Source Heat Pump
Kensa has launched the Shoebox NX ground source heat pump, a British-made unit it says can decarbonise heating for 60 per cent of UK homes when used in shared ground loop networks.
Two-week trial of Visit a Heat Pump ran before nationwide launch
Nesta began a two-week trial of its Visit a Heat Pump booking platform on 28 February 2024, ahead of the scheme's nationwide launch, according to the charity's later report on the service.
Nesta publishes Clean heat: coordinating the switch street by street
Nesta has published a blueprint for switching homes to low-carbon heating street by street, proposing new national and local bodies to coordinate installations alongside the existing household-led approach.
Consultation on changes to permitted development rights opened
The government consulted on changes to permitted development rights for electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps between 13 February and 9 April 2024, drawing 1,409 responses.
MCS opens four-week consultation on changes to MIS 3005-D heat pump design standard
MCS has opened a four-week consultation on changes to its heat pump design standard, proposing a definition of hybrid systems, removal of the 100% heat loss sizing rule and a minimum 55% peak power contribution.
NIBE introduces S1156 and S1256 ground source heat pumps
NIBE has introduced the S1156 and S1256 ground source heat pumps, adding two new models to its UK range of low-carbon heating equipment.
Addendum to NISEP 2023/25 Framework Document published
The Utility Regulator published a February 2024 addendum to the NISEP 2023/25 Framework Document, changing income eligibility, heat pump monitoring, governance and customer protections.
Heat pump installation works provision inserted
VAT law for energy-saving materials was amended on 1 February 2024 so that installing ground source and water source heat pumps includes the groundworks or dredging needed for their pipework.
National delivery of Visit a Heat Pump service begins
Nesta has been running its Visit a Heat Pump service nationally since February 2024, connecting people considering a heat pump with owners willing to show them a working system.
The Renewable Technology Collective achieves MCS certification
The Renewable Technology Collective, a Scottish heat pump installer working across Angus, Tayside and Aberdeenshire, became MCS-certified for air source heat pumps in February 2024, a process its founder says took two months.
- January 2024
Council of the European Union adopts revised F-gas regulation
The Council of the European Union adopted a revised F-gas regulation on 29 January 2024, phasing down fluorinated gases used in heat pumps, air conditioners, fridges and some medicines.
MCS 020 consultation closes with 55 responses
MCS has published its response to a consultation on the MCS 020 sound standard for air source heat pumps, which closed on 26 January 2024 with 55 responses.