Comment: Government to drop heat pump goal

Reports suggest that the Government is planning to scrap the clean heat mechanism.

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By George Smeeton

info@eciu.net

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Commenting on reports that the Government is planning to scrap the clean heat mechanism under which boiler makers who failed to meet strict production targets for heat pumps would be fined [1], Jess Ralston, analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: "If energy independence is the Government's priority, policies that lower our gas demand, like this one, should be top of the list. Any delay to the move towards electric heat pumps would worsen our energy security by keeping us tied into gas for longer, which will increasingly come from abroad as the North Sea continues its decline. New licensing won’t shift the dial on that.

“It would also be a disastrous signal to send to the heat pump industry which has been gearing up for the policy's introduction in just two months' time and may jeopardise investments that companies are already making in the UK's heat pump industry. More screeching U-turns for the energy industry is not great when we’re increasingly competing for investment with international markets that are pressing on with net zero as a route to energy security, including rapidly rolling out heat pumps.

“The gas boiler lobby has already been called out for underhand tactics [2]. The Secretary of State herself has described this threat from the gas industry as price gouging. Ultimately the consumer loses out when we’re left more dependent on gas markets – everyone who pays an energy bill knows that from the past two years."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. Sunak to drop heat pump targets in fresh retreat from net zero goal
  2. Potentially misleading boiler marketing over the use of hydrogen removed after Sky News investigation, Sky News; 'Campaigns of misinformation' around heat pumps says energy minister amid record number of installations, Sky News; Gas boiler lobby trying to delay UK’s heat pump plans, leak shows, The Guardian.

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: +44 (0)7894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net