Powering Homes News: page 59
- January 2024
£16m fund opens for West Midlands homeowners to pay for energy efficiency improvements
The West Midlands Combined Authority has opened a £16 million Home Upgrade Grant fund giving eligible off-gas-grid homeowners in four council areas grants of up to £18,000 for insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
Hypervolt releases app version 5.1 with PDF report downloads and troubleshooting guide
Hypervolt has begun rolling out version 5.1 of its charger app, adding direct PDF downloads of consumption reports and an in-app troubleshooting guide for connection problems.
NEA publishes response to additional debt-related costs allowance policy consultation
National Energy Action has published its response to the consultation on an additional debt-related costs allowance, saying record market debt and arrears of £2.6bn show households are falling behind on energy costs.
Rules and RegulationWhere to StartEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
NEA publishes response to prepayment meter standing charges consultation
National Energy Action has published its response to the statutory consultation on prepayment meter standing charges and other debt costs, restating its long-standing call to remove payment premiums.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationWhere to Start
Nesta Impact Investments invests £2 million in heat pump provider Aira
Nesta Impact Investments has put £2 million into heat pump and clean energy service Aira, as part of the company's €145 million Series B financing round announced on 16 January 2024.
Rinnai announced a new product launch programme
Rinnai has set out a launch programme running through the first quarter of 2024, covering low-GWP heat pumps, electric water heaters, hot water cylinders and plate heat exchangers.
Publication of Air Source Heat Pump Noise & Permitted Development Rights in Wales reports (phase 1 & 2)
The Welsh Government has published two reports on air source heat pump noise and permitted development rights, examining whether the current three-metre boundary rule should change.
Rules and RegulationHeat PumpsScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Treasury makes the VAT (Installation of Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2024
The Treasury has widened the temporary zero rate of VAT on installing energy-saving materials to cover water source heat pumps, certain batteries and smart diverters from 1st February 2024.
Nesta publishes report on how much insulation UK houses really need
Nesta has published a report arguing that insulation is not a prerequisite for heat pumps and proposing that 13 million homes reach EPC C by 2030 at a cost of around £60 billion.
Zapmap publishes record 2023 EV charging statistics
Zapmap's year-end figures show UK public charging points grew 45 per cent in 2023, with ultra-rapid devices up 112 per cent and charging hubs up 145 per cent.
Leeds City Council launches Home Upgrade Grant scheme with Everwarm
Leeds City Council has opened a Home Upgrade Grant scheme with Everwarm, offering free energy upgrades to eligible off-gas homeowners and a two-thirds discount to landlords, backed by £15.5 million that expires in March 2025.
Grant UK launches the Aerona Smart Controller
Grant UK has launched the Aerona Smart Controller, a weather compensated controller for its Aerona³ heat pump range that adds remote monitoring, app access and per-zone heating curve configuration.
Weather warning for central southern England with damaging winds forecast
SSEN activated contingency plans and added teams ahead of gusts forecast above 55mph inland and 60mph on coasts and high ground across central southern England on 2 January 2024.
Boiler manufacturers raise wholesale prices ahead of Clean Heat Market Mechanism
Five boiler manufacturers raised wholesale prices by £95 to £120 in January 2024 in response to the proposed Clean Heat Market Mechanism, then returned the money after the scheme was delayed.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant rise to £7,500 drives applications up nearly 39%
Ofgem's eighth Boiler Upgrade Scheme quarterly report shows 6,835 voucher applications between February and April 2024, after the heat pump grant rose to £7,500 in October 2023.
Coalition members call for social tariff in Spring Budget
End Fuel Poverty Coalition members called in January 2024 for a social tariff to be included in that year's Spring Budget, as part of a long-running campaign for energy tariff reform.
Consumer Scotland responds to Ofgem's Standing Charges Call for Input
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem that moving standing charges onto unit rates in isolation would hit Scottish, disabled and electric heating households hardest, and that the regulator's own modelling does not justify the change.
Rules and RegulationEnergy SuppliersEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Daikin Multi+ system launched in the UK
Daikin's Multi+ system, which provides heating, cooling and hot water from one outdoor unit, reached the UK in 2024 after being available in Europe, according to a Daikin case study.
Eight suppliers cleared to restart involuntary prepayment meter installations
Eight energy suppliers met Ofgem's criteria to restart involuntary prepayment meter installations from January 2024, after the practice was suspended in February 2023.
End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates 4,950 excess winter deaths caused by cold homes in winter 2022/23
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has raised its estimate of excess winter deaths caused by cold homes in the UK in winter 2022/23 to 4,950, up from 4,706, after new official data.
UK energy debt reported at just under £3 billion
The British Gas Energy Trust has reported that the UK is in just under £3 billion of energy debt, as the price cap rose about 5 per cent on 1 January 2024.
Energy National Policy Statements came into effect
The energy National Policy Statements were designated and came into effect in January 2024, with solar infrastructure treated as a Critical National Priority for nationally significant low carbon infrastructure.
New UK-EU Rules of Origin scheduled to begin
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has warned that tougher UK-EU Rules of Origin begin on 1 January 2024, with electric vehicles traded both ways facing possible tariffs.
Extended battery warranty for EV models registered from 1 January 2024
Kia's UK model pages state that high-voltage battery warranty cover for its electric models registered from 1 January 2024 runs to 8 years or 100,000 miles.
First suppliers restart involuntary PPM activity
Ofgem has confirmed that the first energy suppliers restarted involuntary prepayment meter installations in January 2024, after independent audits verified they met strengthened rules introduced in November 2023.
Good Energy launches Export Only tariff
Good Energy launched Export Only in January 2024, a 4p per kWh export tariff open to any household with a smart meter and a certified renewable installation, without requiring a Good Energy import deal.
UK Government to introduce zero-emission vehicle mandate
The UK Government has committed to a zero-emission vehicle mandate from 1 January 2024, extended to Northern Ireland by ministerial agreement, setting annual zero-emission sales targets for manufacturers.
Government withdrawal notice issued for UPP e-bike battery
A Government withdrawal notice issued in January 2024 told Amazon, eBay and Alibaba that UPP e-bike batteries U004 and U004-1 pose a serious risk of fire, and listings have since been found on Facebook Marketplace.
Issuance of accelerated connection contracts for 10 GW of BESS
The Electricity System Operator issued connection contracts with accelerated dates for 21 battery storage projects totalling 10 GW at the start of 2024, it has reported.
ivie launches Future of Energy series with Solar 101 guide
ivie has launched a Future of Energy series of home energy guides, beginning with a free Solar 101 download and followed by a second guide on battery storage.