Powering Homes News: page 75
- 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.
Sunsynk announces 3.07 kWh Mini Battery with 7kW MPPT Bi-Directional Inverter
Sunsynk has published details of a 3.07 kWh lithium iron phosphate Mini Battery paired with a 7kW MPPT bi-directional inverter, describing plug and play installation with cables and protection built in.
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.
Rules and RegulationHeat PumpsScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
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.
MCS to publish consultation on proposed changes to its scheme
MCS has opened a six-week consultation on proposed changes to its certification scheme, saying the redevelopment would strengthen consumer safeguards in small-scale renewables.
Aerona Smart Controller previewed at InstallerSHOW
Grant UK previewed its Aerona Smart Controller for Aerona³ heat pumps at InstallerSHOW in June 2023, a weather compensated control with a 4.5 inch touch screen and remote monitoring.
British Assessment Bureau becomes UKAS accredited
MCS has appointed the British Assessment Bureau as a certification body for small-scale renewables, after the bureau gained UKAS accreditation in June 2023 to assess contractors against MCS standards.
Consultation on Clean Heat Market Mechanism closes
The government has finished consulting on the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, which would require boiler sellers to sell a quota of heat pumps for every boiler sold.
ECO4 and Scheme in-fill blending not enabled
The government has confirmed the Great British Insulation Scheme will run from 2023 to 2026 with in-fill allowed as consulted, but without any function for blending measures between ECO4 and the new scheme.
Energy Price Guarantee ended
The Energy Price Guarantee kept household gas and electricity prices constant from October 2022 until June 2023, after which Ofgem's price cap again set the maximum prices suppliers could charge.
Energy Bills and the Price CapStatisticsRules and Regulation
Energy Price Guarantee extended at the same level to the end of June 2023
The Energy Price Guarantee was extended at the same level for three months from April to the end of June 2023, keeping a typical Great Britain household bill at around £2,500 a year.
Fuse Energy launches as first new supplier after the energy crisis
Fuse Energy launched in 2023 as the first new supplier to enter the UK market after the energy crisis, founded by former Revolut executives and now rated in Which? rankings for the first time.
Government confirms two eligibility groups for the Great British Insulation Scheme
The government has confirmed that the Great British Insulation Scheme will target two eligibility groups, with Council Tax band limits set per nation and an EPC of D or below for the general group.
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.
Grants and SchemesScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandRules and Regulation
Keston launches Combi 2 and System 2 twin flue boiler range
Keston has launched the Combi 2 and System 2 twin flue boiler range, offering flue runs up to 27m, colour screen controls, hydrogen blend operation and warranties of up to seven years.
MCS consulted on significant reforms aimed at improving quality and consumer protection
MCS consulted in June 2023 on reforms to improve quality and consumer protection, restructuring its relationships with consumers, installers and certification bodies, including removing the requirement for contractors to hold membership of a CTSI approved consumer code.
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation proposing to end mandatory Consumer Code membership
MCS has opened a consultation on redeveloping its scheme, proposing to drop mandatory Consumer Code membership for certified installers in favour of a new customer duty.
Octopus completes acquisition of Bulb
Octopus Energy completed its acquisition of Bulb in June 2023, following the supplier's 2021 insolvency and a period in special administration, according to Ofgem's Smart Export Guarantee annual report.
Ofgem consults on Code to prevent involuntary PPM installations for vulnerable consumers
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation on making its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice binding licence conditions, with the aim of having the protections in place for winter 2023/24.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapEnergy Suppliers
Ofgem consults on integrating PPM Code of Practice into licence and guidance
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation on plans to write its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice into the supply licence, with a response deadline of 26 July 2023.
Ofgem consults on new SLC requirements for involuntary PPM installations
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation on licence changes that would put its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice into the supply licence, with responses due by 26 July 2023.
Publication of Nick Winser's independent report on Accelerating Electricity Transmission Network Deployment
Nick Winser's independent report on accelerating electricity transmission network deployment was published in June 2023, setting out the need for unprecedented development of Britain's transmission infrastructure.
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules apply in full in England
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules for new homes in England have applied in full since June 2023, and industry figures show the share of newbuilds fitted with solar panels rose from 13% to 42% by late 2024.
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.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandBoilers and Heating
Self-referral service for the Great British Insulation Scheme planned for summer 2023 on GOV.UK
The government has confirmed it plans to launch a self-referral service on GOV.UK in summer 2023 so households can learn about and access the Great British Insulation Scheme.
Shell announces exit from UK domestic energy market
Shell announced in summer 2023 that it would sell its UK domestic energy business to Octopus and leave the household supply market, a process completed on 1 December 2023.
Susan Walker's JA Solar system installed in Scotland
A 4.4kWp JA Solar system with battery storage was installed at a home in Scotland in June 2023 at a total cost of £12,837, according to the owner's account of the installation.
Wales eligibility expanded to Council Tax bands A-E
The government has widened Great British Insulation Scheme eligibility in Wales from Council Tax bands A to C to bands A to E, raising the share of eligible Welsh homes from 57% to 87%.