Powering Homes news, page 108
- March 2022
Chancellor announces further £500 million for the Household Support Fund
The Chancellor announced a further £500 million for the Household Support Fund in the March 2022 Spring Statement, bringing total funding for the scheme to £1 billion since October 2021.
CLC reported boilers among products with supply chain issues
In March 2022 the Construction Leadership Council reported generally good stock levels across industrial products but named boilers among the key items facing supply chain issues and delays.
European Commission publishes REPowerEU
The European Commission published REPowerEU in March 2022, a week after the International Energy Agency set out a ten-point plan to cut reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
Funding paid to billing authorities
The government paid Council Tax Rebate funding to English billing authorities in March 2022, ahead of £150 payments to households in bands A to D from April.
Government committed to phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022
The government has said it will phase out imports of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022, working with industry through a new Taskforce on Oil.
Government publishes response to PAC report on the Green Homes Grant
BEIS has answered the Public Accounts Committee's criticism of the Green Homes Grant, accepting an unrealistic timetable and promising better design, contractor checks and an evaluation due in August 2023.
Government publishes updated Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy pledging up to £1.6bn
The government published an updated Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy in March 2022, pledging up to £1.6bn of public funding for charging infrastructure across the UK.
Green Homes Grant scheme closes
The Green Homes Grant, which covered up to two-thirds of the cost of energy efficiency works in England, closed in March 2022, leaving households to look to successor schemes.
Helicopter airlift delivers materials for Aultbea-Ullapool network upgrade
SSEN Distribution has airlifted 162 wooden poles and overhead line equipment by helicopter along an 18km route between Slattadale and Aultbea as part of a £14.2m network upgrade in the North West Highlands.
Nesta report says heat pumps could soon be cheaper than gas boilers over 15-year lifetime
Nesta analysis of 60,000 UK heat pump installations finds that, with three policy and market changes plus a £5,000 grant, heat pumps could cost £60 to £110 a year less than gas boilers over a 15-year life.
Ofgem publishes single decision covering consultation parts 1 and 2
Ofgem has published its single decision on the ECO4 scoring methodology consultation parts 1 and 2, setting out how energy efficiency measures will be scored under the scheme from 2022.
Russia threatens to close major gas pipeline to Europe
Russia has threatened to close a major gas pipeline to Europe in retaliation for countries considering bans on Russian oil imports, a move that could raise prices even in countries that use little Russian gas.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund began delivery
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund began delivering energy efficiency measures in March 2022, part of a year in which government-backed scheme installations fell 55 per cent.
Spring Statement 2022 expands the VAT relief for ESMs in Great Britain
The government has expanded VAT relief on energy saving materials in Great Britain, setting a temporary zero rate until 31 March 2027 and reinstating wind and water turbines as qualifying materials.
SSEN begins £2.49 million infrastructure upgrade in Bournemouth
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has started a £2.49 million project to replace underground cables between two Bournemouth substations, serving 11,500 customers in the Victoria Park area.
Sutton control software fault identified and temporary fix applied
Monitoring of an Energiesprong retrofit in Sutton found the standard control software was not activating the heat pump, and a temporary control algorithm was applied to the affected homes.
- February 2022
Dimplex issues product safety notice for Solar Collector FK8000, SOL202COL
Dimplex has published a product safety notice dated 28 February 2022 covering its Solar Collector FK8000 and SOL202COL, adding the solar thermal part to a page that also carries earlier notices.
Draft regulations laid before the House
The draft Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 were laid before Parliament on 25 February 2022, setting up capital grants for heat pumps and, in limited cases, biomass boilers.
UK Government releases new fuel poverty statistics for England
Government figures show 3.16 million English households in fuel poverty in 2020, and the charity National Energy Action warns current progress would take over 60 years to meet statutory targets.
Investec Bank Ltd estimates October 2022 price cap could exceed £3,000 per household
Investec Bank Ltd estimated on 24 February 2022 that the October price cap could rise another 50% to more than £3,000 per household, prompting charity warnings on fuel poverty.
Russia launches full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 pushed oil above $100 a barrel and raised European gas prices by 50%, setting off the sharpest period of UK household energy bill rises in decades.
US and allies impose severe sanctions on Russia
The US and its allies announced severe sanctions on Russia's largest financial institutions and technology exports after the invasion of Ukraine, with energy markets and household bills in focus.
Rinnai announces H3 range of hydrogen blend ready, hybrid and heat pump products
Rinnai UK has announced an H3 product range covering commercial heat pumps, hydrogen blend ready and hybrid hot water systems, to be introduced in stages during 2022.
SolarEdge launches S-Series Power Optimizers with Sense Connect arc prevention
SolarEdge has released S-Series Power Optimizers with patented Sense Connect technology that detects abnormal connector temperatures and shuts down the inverter before electric arcs can form.
Government announced further £67 million for Home Upgrade Grant phase one
The government announced a further £67 million on 21 February 2022, offered to successful local authorities to supplement funding under Home Upgrade Grant phase one.
Statutory instrument closed the DRHI to new applications
Regulations laid in February 2022 closed the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive to new applications and new metering package applications from midnight on 31 March 2022, ending a scheme that had paid support since 2014.
Whoop Energy and Xcel Energy cease trading
Whoop Energy and Xcel Energy ceased trading on 18 February 2022, and Ofgem appointed Yu Energy to take on their customers, the Energy Ombudsman has confirmed.
Red Met Office warning issued for Storm Eunice as energy networks prepare
The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for parts of south west England and south Wales as energy network operators moved staff and equipment into position ahead of Storm Eunice.
BEAMA publishes white paper on ventilation and indoor air quality
BEAMA has published a white paper calling on the Government to raise ventilation standards in newbuild homes, pair energy efficiency retrofits with ventilation measures and treat poor indoor air quality as a public health emergency.
SMMT publishes seven-point plan for EV charging infrastructure
The UK automotive trade body has published a seven-point plan calling for binding chargepoint targets and a new independent regulator, Ofcharge, to oversee public charging across Britain.