Installers news from 2023
35 stories, newest first
- December 2023
£6 billion allocated to energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes
The government has allocated £6 billion of capital funding for 2025 to 2028 across energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes, including a new £400 million grant for households in England.
RECC reports Government extension of VAT relief on energy saving materials
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has reported that VAT relief on energy saving materials will be expanded from 1 February 2024 to cover battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters.
New consumer standards licence conditions take effect
Ofgem's new consumer standards licence conditions for energy suppliers took effect on 14 December 2023, covering contact ease, support for customers struggling to pay and publication of customer service ratings.
Government confirms VAT relief expansion for battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters
The government has confirmed that electrical battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters will qualify for zero-rate VAT relief on installation from 1 February 2024 across the United Kingdom.
Outcome published: VAT energy saving materials relief to be expanded
HMRC has published the outcome of its call for evidence on VAT relief for energy saving materials, confirming an expanded zero rate from 1 February 2024 and a list of newly qualifying technologies.
- November 2023
MCS opens consultation on MCS 020 planning standard
MCS has opened a consultation on its MCS 020 planning standard for air source heat pumps, proposing changes to solid barrier definitions, background noise assumptions and location guidance, with comments due by 26 January 2024.
Green Heat Finance Taskforce publishes part 1 report
The independent Green Heat Finance Taskforce has published part one of its report, setting out finance options for Scottish property owners to cover the upfront cost of replacing polluting heating with clean heat.
MCS reported planned Benchmark Online and MID integration
MCS has reported that Benchmark Online and the MCS Installations Database will be integrated, giving heat pump installers a single point of data entry for commissioning and certification.
MCS announces Data Dashboard Phase 2 for early 2024
MCS has announced a second phase of its Data Dashboard for early 2024, adding contractor numbers, battery storage uptake and month-by-month timelines to the free public platform.
Green Heat Finance Taskforce report published
The Green Heat Finance Taskforce published its first report in November 2023, setting out finance products intended to spread the upfront cost of heat and energy efficiency work in Scottish buildings.
Ofgem to decide restarts supplier by supplier
Ofgem has confirmed it will decide supplier by supplier when new licence conditions on involuntary prepayment meter installations have been met and firms are ready to restart.
- October 2023
Safestyle enters administration and FENSA suspends its approval
Safestyle announced on 30 October 2023 that it had gone into administration, and FENSA suspended the firm as a FENSA Approved Installer the same day.
MCS announced plans to redevelop oversight of the low-carbon sector
MCS has appointed Brian Wright as its first Group Finance Director and set out plans to redevelop its oversight of consumer protection, quality and compliance across the low-carbon sector.
MCS publishes outcome of scheme redevelopment consultation
MCS has published the outcome of its consultation on redeveloping the certification scheme, confirming new documents before the end of 2023 and a relaunch in summer 2024.
Daikin opens four new Sustainable Home Network centres
Daikin UK has opened four new Sustainable Home Network centres in Northampton, Aberdeen, Port Talbot and Surrey, taking the walk-in network for homeowners and installers to 35 sites.
- August 2023
MCS consultation on scheme redevelopment receives 106 official and 187 informal responses
MCS received 106 official and 187 informal responses to its six-week consultation on redeveloping the certification scheme, with a summary due in September and changes planned for the second quarter of 2024.
RECC publishes annual report highlights for 2022
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has published highlights from its 2022 annual report, recording 3,037 member businesses, over 108,000 installations and £176,557 recovered for consumers.
- July 2023
MCS appoints British Assessment Bureau as a certification body
MCS has appointed the British Assessment Bureau as a certification body for small-scale renewables, its third such appointment in a year after more than a decade without new ones.
Renewable Adjudication Service launched by REAL
REAL has launched the Renewable Adjudication Service, run by CEDR, which becomes the second stage of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code dispute process in place of independent arbitration.
Heat Training Grant begins funding heat pump installer training
The £5 million Heat Training Grant has funded training for around 3,000 heat pump installers since July 2023, part of a wider push to build the installer base behind the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
- June 2023
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation
MCS has welcomed Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body and confirmed it is consulting on proposals to transform how the scheme operates.
Simply Certification becomes an MCS certification body
MCS has named Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body, the second such appointment since 2022, licensed to assess heat pumps, solar PV and solar heating installations.
MCS to publish consultation on proposed changes to its scheme
MCS has opened a six-week consultation on proposed changes to its certification scheme, saying the redevelopment would strengthen consumer safeguards in small-scale renewables.
Aerona Smart Controller previewed at InstallerSHOW
Grant UK previewed its Aerona Smart Controller for Aerona³ heat pumps at InstallerSHOW in June 2023, a weather compensated control with a 4.5 inch touch screen and remote monitoring.
MCS consulted on significant reforms aimed at improving quality and consumer protection
MCS consulted in June 2023 on reforms to improve quality and consumer protection, restructuring its relationships with consumers, installers and certification bodies, including removing the requirement for contractors to hold membership of a CTSI approved consumer code.
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation proposing to end mandatory Consumer Code membership
MCS has opened a consultation on redeveloping its scheme, proposing to drop mandatory Consumer Code membership for certified installers in favour of a new customer duty.
- May 2023
MPs call for grid improvements and affordable household loans for solar
The Environmental Audit Committee has urged the Government to consult on affordable household loans for solar and extend the VAT discount to household battery storage, while warning that grid connection delays are holding back progress.
Digital service updated so all application stages can be completed digitally
Ofgem has reported that further improvements to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme digital service in May 2023 allow installers to complete every stage of an application online.
- April 2023
£30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator launched
The Energy Plan of April 2023 set out a £30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator and extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028, alongside a new insulation scheme for 300,000 homes.
- March 2023
Treasury issues call for evidence on zero VAT for battery storage
The Treasury has issued a call for evidence on extending zero VAT to battery storage, whether retrofitted to solar panels or fitted as a standalone unit.
MCS and HIES withdraw Green Energy Together accreditations, installer enters administration
MCS and HIES withdrew Green Energy Together's accreditations in March 2023, and the installer then entered administration, leaving some households without deposits or with unfinished work.
- February 2023
House of Lords committee letter describes Boiler Upgrade Scheme as 'seriously failing'
The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has told the government its Boiler Upgrade Scheme is seriously failing, citing cost, installer shortages and poor advice.
British Gas launches heat pump installation price offer
British Gas has said it will cap the starting price of heat pump installation at £2,999, a figure that excludes the heat pump itself and will not apply to every home.
- January 2023
Retrofit Installers Working Group launched with TrustMark and other Certification Bodies
NAPIT has launched a Retrofit Installers Working Group with TrustMark and other certification bodies, focused on quality assurance checks and protecting consumers from noncompliant retrofit work.
EHPA reports need for 500,000 skilled heat pump installers by 2030
The European Heat Pump Association has calculated that the sector needs at least 500,000 skilled full time equivalent workers by 2030 to meet REPowerEU ambitions, after record 2022 sales.