New Technology news
Are heat batteries worth it yet? Has the trial of hydrogen for home heating reported its results, or the rules on vehicle to grid changed? Which new battery chemistries and smart local energy projects are moving forward?
Every new technology story we have reported, newest first: heat batteries, hydrogen trials, vehicle to grid, smart local energy and the results so far. Each one links to our guides on what it means for you.
- July 2026
Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification Version 2.0 issued
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has issued Version 2.0 of its interim product specification for plug-in solar devices, setting the technical and safety limits that will govern the products.
- May 2026
Wales' first hydrogen home opens to visitors
Wales & West Utilities has opened a retrofitted terraced home heated with green hydrogen to public visitors, calling it Wales' first hydrogen home and a UK-first retrofit of its kind.
Where Our Energy Comes FromScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- April 2026
Windfall Energy prepares to open pre-orders for first limited run of Windfall Batteries
Windfall Energy says it is about to open pre-orders for a first limited production run of its plug-in home battery, aimed at flats and rental homes that cannot fit solar or conventional batteries.
- February 2026
Green Gas Taskforce publishes Bio-Hybrids report with Cadent and Guidehouse
The Green Gas Taskforce, with Cadent and Guidehouse, has published a report finding biomethane boilers paired with air source heat pumps are the lowest-cost clean heat option for 30 to 45 percent of homes.
- November 2025
Government expands Boiler Upgrade Scheme to air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to cover air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, with £2,500 grants for each in England and Wales.
Government response confirms £2,500 grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries under the BUS
The Government has confirmed £2,500 grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with applications expected to open from 2026.
- April 2025
Government launches consultation on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The government has opened a consultation on widening the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to cover air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, and to allow third-party ownership finance alongside grants.
- March 2025
Sunamp launches low-power Thermino heat battery models at ISH Frankfurt
Sunamp has added 1800 watt low-power models to its Thermino heat battery range, launched at the ISH trade fair in Frankfurt on 18 March 2025.
Mixergy closes £12 million funding round led by Barclays Climate Ventures
Mixergy has closed a £12 million funding round led by Barclays Climate Ventures, with existing shareholders backing the smart hot water cylinder maker as it moves to a licensing and partnership model.
- February 2025
Climate Change Committee advises no role for hydrogen in heating buildings
The Climate Change Committee's seventh Carbon Budget advice to government found no role for hydrogen in heating buildings, according to a consultation response citing the committee's position.
- November 2024
Ideal Heating receives first Heat Pump Investment Accelerator award
Ideal Heating has become the first recipient of a Heat Pump Investment Accelerator award, receiving over £5 million as part of a wider government package on home heating and efficiency.
- October 2024
Electric Heating Company partners with Mixergy to offer Mixergy X smart hot water cylinder
The Electric Heating Company will sell the Mixergy X smart hot water cylinder through its own website under a partnership announced by cylinder maker Mixergy on 30 October 2024.
- September 2024
EDF launches bi-directional EV charging trial for solar customers
EDF has begun a trial using Indra Renewables bi-directional chargers so that customers with solar panels can power their homes from electric vehicle batteries and sell surplus power to the grid.
Neat Heat trial findings published showing heat batteries shift heating demand off-peak
UK Power Networks, OVO and tepeo published findings from the 18-month Neat Heat trial, reporting that heat batteries in 30 homes moved up to 95% of heating demand outside peak hours.
- July 2024
Mixergy announces Robert Heath as warranty service provider
Mixergy has named Robert Heath as a warranty service and maintenance provider for its smart hot water cylinders, with the firm joining its network of warranty partners in Autumn 2024.
- May 2024
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.
- March 2024
NAO report highlights challenges in decarbonising home heating
The National Audit Office's March 2024 report found delays and cancellations in hydrogen heating trials and lower than expected Boiler Upgrade Scheme uptake, drawing industry criticism of the advice behind heat policy.
- January 2024
Octopus Energy launches UK's first vehicle-to-grid tariff
Octopus Energy launched Octopus Power Pack, described as the UK's first vehicle-to-grid tariff, at the beginning of 2024, following a vehicle-to-grid trial with National Grid ESO in 2022.
- November 2023
Mixergy announces Heat Pump Interface v2
Mixergy has announced version two of its heat pump interface, which it says improves integration between its hot water cylinders and heat pumps and simplifies installation by using the heat pump's existing thermal probe.
Mixergy announces the Cube X cylinder
Mixergy has announced the Cube X, a compact smart cylinder for heating and hot water that the company says will need no G3 unvented certification and is due to arrive soon.
- October 2023
National Infrastructure Commission recommends against hydrogen for home heating
The National Infrastructure Commission advised the government in October 2023 not to support hydrogen for home heating, a position set out in a National Audit Office report on decarbonising home heating.
- September 2023
ECO4 innovation measure 022 approved
Ofgem approved UKSOL monocrystalline solar panels with built-in Tigo optimisers as ECO4 innovation measure 022 on 26 September 2023, with a 45% uplift and EDF Energy as awarded supplier.
- July 2023
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.
Northern Ireland announces plan for electricity smart meter implementation
Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy is developing a plan for electricity smart meters, with analysis recommending a six-year roll-out beginning in 2027.
- June 2023
Sunamp and Trianco launch ActivAir Plus heat pump and heat battery package
Sunamp will supply its Thermino heat batteries to Trianco for the ActivAir Plus package, which pairs an air source heat pump with a heat battery and is now available nationwide.
- May 2023
E.ON-led consortium awarded Green Home Finance Accelerator funding
DESNZ has awarded Green Home Finance Accelerator funding to an E.ON-led consortium with Energy Systems Catapult and Heatio to pilot Heat as a Service and Energy as a Service products.
- April 2023
TCR removes time of use based TNUoS charges
Ofgem's Targeted Charging Review replaces the time of use element of transmission charges with a banded fixed charge from April 2023, cutting the revenue available from vehicle-to-grid tariff optimisation by around half.
- March 2023
Cadent and British Gas offer all Whitby residents a choice to opt in or out of Hydrogen Village trial
Cadent and British Gas have written to all 2,000 residents in the proposed Whitby Hydrogen Village offering each household a choice to opt in to hydrogen heating or stay on natural gas.
Ministers approve hydrogen blending in UK gas network
Ministers have approved blending hydrogen into the UK gas network, with commercial implementation expected by 2025-26 subject to safety assessments and legislative change.
- February 2023
Study finds green hydrogen heating two to three times more expensive than heat pumps in Europe
An ETH Zürich study published in Energy Conversion and Management finds that heating homes with green hydrogen would cost roughly two to three times more than using electric heat pumps across the EU and UK.