BEAMA, the trade body for electrotechnical and heating manufacturers, published a policy document on 22 November 2023 setting out its case for electrified low carbon heat. The document, "Delivering low carbon heat", carries the reference 22/11/2023/001 and was issued alongside an infographic titled "Ensuring energy security whilst decarbonising heat"1.
The document states that up to £12 billion per year is required over the next 15 years to support households to decarbonise their heating systems, a figure it attributes to the National Infrastructure Commission's Second National Infrastructure Assessment1. It argues that this spending could accompany grid security, citing a potential saving of 10 to 14 per cent of peak demand by 2050 from total flexibility in electric heat1. BEAMA also cites a 10 per cent difference in costs over 15 years between a range of technology options, and says 86 per cent of consumers are willing to adopt smarter home energy use1.
The accompanying infographic sets out technology categories and the share of homes each could suit. It states that the current circa 280k heat pumps in the UK have a combined electrical load of 1.6 GW, described as future flexibility potential2.
| Technology | Homes it could suit | Flexibility figure given |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pumps | 80 to 100 per cent of UK homes | Peak consumption savings of 18 per cent during flexibility periods in recent small-scale studies |
| Smart thermal store (boiler) | 20 to 30 per cent of homes | Stores up to 40 kWh of thermal energy |
| Modern storage heating | 5 per cent of current housing stock | Over 3 million unit deployment potential, 66 GWh of daily flexibility capacity, 9.4 GW connected load |
| Domestic hot water only heat pumps | Up to 25 per cent of homes | 2.8 million hard-to-treat homes could offer 10 GW of flexible load |
| Domestic hot water cylinders | Up to 100 per cent of homes | Circa 7 million cylinders provide a potential 17.5 GWh of flexibility |
| Thermal hydro store | Up to 100 per cent of homes | Up to 1,000 kWh of load shifting potential a year |
Source: BEAMA2
The document states that reducing peak power demand by 15 GW through demand side response by 2050 will only be achieved with time-of-use tariffs and enabling technologies, and that without a smart meter and accompanying in-home display, homes will not be able to participate in the energy transition2. It also says better insulation will lead to harmful indoor air quality unless ventilation is also considered1.
"Only the Government can remove this barrier by adjusting the energy levies and decoupling the cost of electricity from gas within core UK policy."
Why it matters for households
The document's central claim is that the running cost of electric heating relative to gas is a policy choice rather than a fixed feature of the technology. Levies currently sit on electricity rather than gas, and BEAMA argues that decoupling the two is something only government can do1. For a household weighing up a heat pump against a gas boiler, that distinction determines whether the upfront and running cost comparison in the document's cited figures holds in practice.
The flexibility figures matter for homes that can shift when they draw power. Time-of-use tariffs reward running appliances outside peak hours, and BEAMA states that 86 per cent of consumers are willing to adopt smarter home energy use1. The document places smart controls at the centre of this, describing them as key to unlocking efficient and responsible use of electrified heat, particularly as time-of-use tariffs increase1. It also notes that several of the technologies listed are soon to be mandated as energy smart appliances2.
The document frames the choice as one of whole house packages rather than single appliances, stating that funding programmes should support all these measures to offer varying, interconnect consumer package options1. It also states that 100 per cent of homes could be suitable for a hot water only heat pump depending on cylinder capacity and space constraints2.
What happens next
The document calls for holistic policy reflecting how technology, fabric and controls benefit together, and for policy mechanisms including SAP and RdSAP, Approved Document L, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and ECO to encourage flexibility enabling technology1. No implementation dates or government response are given in the document. BEAMA's recommendations sit within the wider regulation and policy landscape, which differs by nation, including Wales.
Sources2 cited
- Delivering-low-carbon-heat.pdf.pdf, beama.org.uk
- THIS Ensuring energy security infographic copy, beama.org.uk