Heat Pumps news, page 8
- October 2023
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended by 3 years to 2028
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme will pay £7,500 towards a heat pump from today and now runs to 2028, three years longer than planned, the government has announced.
Which? responds to government's improved heat pump grant and energy efficiency campaign launch
Which? has welcomed the government's increase to heat pump grants and the launch of a home energy efficiency awareness campaign, saying cost and low awareness hold consumers back.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grants increased by 50% to £7,500
Air source heat pump grants under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rose from £5,000 to £7,500 and ground source grants from £6,000 to £7,500 from 23 October 2023, with the scheme extended to 2028.
Citizens Advice responds to DESNZ consultation on Boiler Upgrade Scheme amendments
Citizens Advice has told the government it welcomes the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant uplift but opposes cuts to grants for some households and wants the scheme's overall budget clarified.
NIBE launches S735 Exhaust Air Heat Pump
NIBE has launched the S735 Exhaust Air Heat Pump, an all-in-one unit for heating, hot water and ventilation, with an A+++ rating and a published SCOP of 4.29.
Ecodan R290 heat pump launched
Mitsubishi Electric has said it will phase out its Ecodan R32 heat pumps and replace them with an extended Ecodan R290 range, after launching the R290 model in October 2023.
Environment Agency permit rules apply to new ground source heat pumps from 1 October 2023
Ground source heat pump installations completed after 1 October 2023 may require an Environment Agency permit, according to updated Planning Portal guidance for England.
Government confirms heat pumps and heat networks as primary low-carbon heating technology
The government confirmed in October 2023 that heat pumps and heat networks will be the primary low-carbon technologies for home heating over the next decade, with a key role in all pathways to 2050.
Heat and Buildings Strategy sets plan to end new fossil fuel boiler installations by 2035
Hydrogen UK has told the Public Accounts Committee that the October 2021 Heat and Buildings Strategy plans to end new fossil fuel boiler installations by 2035, while warning that hydrogen heating trials have slipped.
MCS opened a consultation on changes to the MCS 020 Standard
MCS has opened a consultation on changes to the MCS 020 noise assessment standard, which permitted development rights for air source heat pumps reference, following a government-commissioned review of heat pump noise.
- September 2023
Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grants increased by 50%
Grants for heat pumps under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rose by 50% from 23 October 2023, taking the air source and ground source rate to £7,500, with applications rising sharply afterwards.
Nesta calls on UK Government to keep 2035 gas boiler commitment
Nesta has urged the UK Government to keep its commitment that no new gas boilers are installed after 2035, warning that any retreat would raise costs and slow heat pump uptake.
Octopus Energy launches Cosy Octopus smart heating system with Cosy 6 heat pump
Octopus Energy has launched Cosy Octopus, a smart heating system built around its first in-house heat pump, the Cosy 6, with installations due to begin in December.
Which? and Octopus Energy launch solar panel and heat pump discount offer
Which? members can claim a 5% discount on solar panel or air-source heat pump installations booked through Octopus Energy, under an offer running until 15 December 2023.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grant increased to £7,500
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for heat pumps rose from £5,000 to £7,500 in September 2023, but the scheme's budget was not increased, so it will serve fewer homes.
Prime Minister announced change to gas boiler new-build policy
Rishi Sunak said in September 2023 that the aim was to cut gas boiler installations in new build homes by 80 per cent rather than ban them outright.
- August 2023
NIBE launches most powerful exhaust air heat pump yet
NIBE has launched its most powerful exhaust air heat pump yet, the company announced on 25 August 2023, extending the range of a technology it has previously won awards for.
Nesta publishes conclusion of European heat pump uptake comparison
Nesta's European heat pump comparison, published on 8 August 2023, concludes that air-to-air heat pumps dominate uptake across Europe while the Boiler Upgrade Scheme funds only air-to-water and ground-source models.
Mitsubishi Electric launches Versatile domestic hot water cylinder range
Mitsubishi Electric has launched the Versatile domestic hot water cylinder range in five capacities, designed for use with its Ecodan R32 heat pumps and controlled through MELCloud.
Mobile heat pump training facility launched at South Lanarkshire College
A Scottish Government funded mobile heat pump training centre, certified by BPEC, was launched at South Lanarkshire College on 2 August to train installers across Scotland.
Baxi launches new residential air source heat pump range
Baxi has launched the HP40 Monobloc air source heat pump range for UK homes, sold as a package with cylinders, controls, training and aftersales support.
Ideal Heating launched its first heat pump production line in Hull
Ideal Heating launched its first heat pump production line in Hull in August 2023, part of a wider investment programme that has since drawn government funding and further company spending.
- July 2023
Alpha launches Alpha Hydro packaged heat pump solution
Alpha has launched the Alpha Hydro, a packaged air source heat pump system pairing 5kW to 16kW single-phase units with a pre-plumbed cylinder and Smartech controls, aimed at retrofit and new build homes.
Panasonic adds Bi-Bloc units to Aquarea L Series heat pump range
Panasonic has added Bi-Bloc units to its Aquarea L Series of heat pumps, which run on the natural refrigerant R290 and can provide heating, hot water and cooling.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended to 2028
MCS reports that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been extended to 2028, alongside data showing Wales has overtaken Scotland for the highest uptake of small-scale renewables per household.
Nesta publishes policy plan for decarbonising home heating
Nesta has published a four-part policy plan for decarbonising UK home heating, covering a boiler phase-out date, cheaper electricity, installer growth and planning reform.
Government introduces £5 million Heat Pump Training Grant
The Heat Pump Association has reported a £5 million government training grant to retrain and upskill 10,000 engineers, alongside rising heat pump sales and Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications.
Mixergy announces collaboration with Kingspan Water & Energy
Mixergy has announced a collaboration with Kingspan Water & Energy to put its top-down heating technology into Kingspan's Range Tribune cylinder family, launching the Range Tribune MXi.
Viessmann launches lower output Vitocal 150/151-A air source heat pumps
Viessmann has added 4, 6 and 8 kW variants to its Vitocal 150-A and 151-A air source heat pump range, extending the line below the 10, 13 and 16 kW models it launched in 2022.
UK government reviews 600,000 heat pumps per year target
A July 2023 parliamentary briefing reviewed the government's target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, noting that only 72,000 were fitted in 2022 and that barriers remain.