Powering Homes news, page 77
- June 2023
NIBE's F2040 air source heat pump upgraded as F2050 is announced
NIBE has announced the F2050 air source heat pump as an upgrade to its F2040 model, in a product update listed on the manufacturer's UK news page.
Hypervolt consumption reports fully released to all users
Hypervolt has completed the full rollout of its 4.3.0 app release, enabling consumption report generation for every user of its charge points.
Ofgem published ECO4 Guidance: New Measures and Products V1.1
Ofgem has published version 1.1 of its ECO4 guidance on new measures and products, setting out how suppliers can apply to deliver technologies not yet recognised under standard scheme rules.
Research published on Warm Homes Fund savings
Newcastle University and partners have published an evaluation of the Warm Homes Fund, finding average household energy running cost savings of £922 a year and total bill savings of £10.8 million.
Citizens Advice publishes research on benefits of retrofitting 13 million inefficient homes
Citizens Advice has published research estimating almost £40 billion in cumulative benefits from upgrading 13 million inefficient homes in Great Britain to EPC C by 2030.
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation
MCS has welcomed Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body and confirmed it is consulting on proposals to transform how the scheme operates.
Simply Certification becomes an MCS certification body
MCS has named Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body, the second such appointment since 2022, licensed to assess heat pumps, solar PV and solar heating installations.
CMA publishes consumer protection report on green heating and insulation sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has published its consumer protection report on green heating and insulation, warning that poor information and weak quality assurance could deter households or lead to bad decisions.
Consultation on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration closes with 17 responses
Ofgem's consultation on how it will administer the Great British Insulation Scheme and amendments to ECO4 closed on 16 June 2023 with 17 responses from suppliers, installers and an energy efficiency body.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
NEA responds to cross-party MP report on energy bill support
National Energy Action has responded to a cross-party committee report on government energy bill support, calling for unspent resources to be reinvested in targeted help for low-income households.
NIA forms National Home Decarbonisation Group for Tier 1 contractors
The National Insulation Association has incorporated a National Home Decarbonisation Group into its structure, creating a forum for Tier 1 contractors delivering large-scale residential retrofit.
NIA submits response to Ofgem's GBIS and ECO4 amendment administration consultation
The National Insulation Association has told Ofgem that the Great British Insulation Scheme should not limit households to a single measure, cap innovation measures or exclude England from the rural uplift.
Citizens Advice published a discussion paper on locational pricing
Citizens Advice has published a discussion paper on locational pricing, weighing whether varying wholesale electricity prices by location could benefit consumers or expose households to new risks.
Summary of response published for Warm Homes Programme consultation
The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses, a policy statement and a review and recommendations report for the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme, two years after the consultation closed.
Grants and SchemesRules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Warm Homes Programme policy statement published
The Welsh Government has published a policy statement for its next Warm Homes Programme, alongside a lessons learned report and its response to last year's consultation, with the current Nest contract extended to avoid a gap in provision.
Department for Infrastructure announces changes to permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps
Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure has amended permitted development rights so domestic air source heat pumps no longer need planning permission, subject to conditions, from 4 July 2023.
Ofgem publishes decision statement on Great British Insulation scheme and ECO4 LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has published its decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 Flex will be administered, after a consultation that drew 16 responses from councils, suppliers and installers.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
SSEN cancels planned outages in north of Scotland ahead of lightning risk
SSEN Distribution cancelled all major planned outages across the north of Scotland on 12 June 2023 as a precaution against forecast lightning, and put additional teams in place to handle faults.
Which? publishes response to Ofgem consumer standards consultation
Which? has published its response to Ofgem's consultation on a framework for consumer standards and options to address priority customer service issues, citing a consistent decline in satisfaction with energy companies.
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.