Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland News: page 6
- June 2023
Summary of response published for Warm Homes Programme consultation
The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses, a policy statement and a review and recommendations report for the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme, two years after the consultation closed.
New Build Heat Standard regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have laid regulations for the New Build Heat Standard, which from 1 April 2024 will bar direct emissions heating in new buildings in Scotland.
NBHS regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have laid regulations for the New Build Heat Standard, prohibiting direct emissions heating in new buildings from 1 April 2024, after a consultation that drew 112 responses.
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan opened
The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan opened in June 2023, offering homeowners up to £7,500 in grant funding plus an optional interest-free loan of the same amount.
Home Energy Scotland withdraws stand-alone solar loans without warning
Home Energy Scotland withdrew stand-alone loans for solar energy systems on homes in summer 2023 without warning, and stopped loans for solar panels and batteries altogether a year later.
Rural uplift set at 20% for Scotland and Wales only
The government has confirmed that its new Great British Insulation Scheme will carry a 20% rural off-gas uplift in Scotland and Wales for low-income households, below the 35% uplift under ECO4.
Scottish Government publishes analysis of New Build Heat Standard Part II consultation responses
The Scottish Government has published its analysis of responses to the second New Build Heat Standard consultation, showing broad support for banning direct emissions heating in new homes from April 2024 alongside concerns about grid capacity and costs.
Warmer Homes Scotland contract due to expire
Scottish Government screening assessment confirms the Warmer Homes Scotland contract expires on 30 June 2023, with a successor national scheme due to start three days later on 3 July 2023.
- May 2023
Scottish Government announces £10m extension of Fuel Insecurity Fund
The Scottish Government has extended its Fuel Insecurity Fund by £10m, a scheme that has written off millions in household energy debt and issued thousands of fuel vouchers.
VAT ESM relief extended to Northern Ireland on 1 May 2023
The temporary VAT zero rate on installing energy-saving materials was extended to Northern Ireland on 1 May 2023 under the Windsor Framework, aligning its VAT treatment with Great Britain.
Zero rate for air source heat pumps extended to Northern Ireland
From 1 May 2023 the temporary zero rate of VAT on air source heat pumps and other qualifying energy-saving materials applies across the whole United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.
- April 2023
Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme to start
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next iteration of its Warm Homes Programme will begin in April 2023, continuing advice and efficiency support for lower income households in Wales.
Scenario modelling projects 920,000 fuel poor households from April 2023
Scottish Government modelling published on 30 May 2023 projects 920,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 37 per cent of all households, from April 2023 once the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
- March 2023
Welsh Government statement on energy cost of living crisis
Jane Hutt MS has set out Welsh Government concerns over the energy market, the end of the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme payment and the treatment of prepayment meter customers in Wales.
Welsh Government published the Keep Warm Keep Well Pembrokeshire press release
The Welsh Government has published details of the Keep Warm Keep Well programme in Pembrokeshire, part of a £1.6 billion cost-of-living support package, after a ministerial visit to a Tenby warm space.
First Minister backed £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund
The First Minister marked his first month in office with a £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund, a commitment the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel later cited when it criticised plans to close the fund.
New Warmer Homes Scotland scheme launches
A new version of Warmer Homes Scotland, built on a whole house retrofit approach, replaced the previous scheme in early 2023, targeting lower-income and vulnerable households in fuel poverty.
Welsh Government plans to start next Part L review in 2023
The Welsh Government has said it will begin the next review of Part L of the Building Regulations in 2023, with a minimum expectation of a 75% carbon improvement option for 2025.
- February 2023
Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme application window closes
The Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme stopped taking applications on 28 February 2023, closing a £200 payment that was open to households regardless of how they paid for energy.
CCC publishes research on domestic EPC metric reform
The Climate Change Committee published research and recommendations on reforming domestic Energy Performance Certificates across Scotland and the rest of the UK in February 2023.
First Winter Heating Payments due to be made
The Scottish Government has confirmed that the first payments of its new £50 Winter Heating Payment, which replaces the UK Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, will be made in February 2023.
Winter Heating Payment launched in Scotland
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment in February 2023, giving low-income households a guaranteed annual payment instead of one triggered by sustained cold weather.
- January 2023
SSEN commits additional £3.5 million for Storm Arwen affected communities
SSEN Distribution has committed an additional £3.5 million for communities worst hit by Storm Arwen, covering local authority funding, its Resilient Communities Fund and network investment in north east Scotland.
Plan to implement Passivhaus standard in Scotland announced
The Scottish Government announced plans on 10 January 2023 to introduce minimum environmental design standards for all newbuild housing, meeting a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.
Cashback scheme to be replaced by grant scheme in 2022/23
The Scottish Government has confirmed that the Home Energy Scotland loan and cashback arrangements will be replaced in 2022/23 by a grant scheme for energy efficiency and zero emissions heat improvements.
Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan published for consultation
The Scottish Government published its draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan for consultation in January 2023, setting out ambitions to transform how Scotland heats its homes and buildings.
Review of energy standards commences to investigate a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard
The Scottish Government began a review of building energy standards at the start of 2023 to investigate what a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard might be.
Scottish government launches EPC reform consultation
The Scottish government has consulted on the design and content of Energy Performance Certificates, with findings from that consultation expected towards the end of 2024.
Welsh Government published consultation reviewing renewable energy targets
The Welsh Government has confirmed it consulted in January 2023 on renewable energy targets including 100% of annual electricity consumption from renewables by 2035 and 5.5GW of heat pump capacity.
- December 2022
Enhanced Home Energy Scotland support launched
From 2 December 2022 homeowners in Scotland can claim a standalone Home Energy Scotland grant of £7,500 for heat pumps or energy efficiency work, with an extra £1,500 for rural homes.