Sustainable Energy Association Welcomes Long-Awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy

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Today the government has published its plan to decarbonise the way we heat our buildings. This key document sets out proposals to phase out the installation of fossil fuel heating by 2035 and introduce a new funding scheme to provide £5,000 per household support the deployment of heat pumps.

The government has announced £3.9 billion of new funding for decarbonising heat and buildings from 2022 to 2025 which will be broken down as follows:

    • £1.425 billion through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
    • £950 million for the Home Upgrade Grant scheme
    • £800 million for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
    • £450 million for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
    • £338 million for the Heat Network Transformation Programme

A mix of technological solutions will be needed to fulfil the government’s net zero commitments and it is positive to see a technology agnostic approach supported. The Strategy highlights the commitment from the government to bring all homes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2035. The proposals outlined support this objective but do not go far enough.

Jade Lewis, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy Association said:

“It is great to finally have visibility on the long-awaited Heat and Building Strategy – a key area of policy for the Sustainable Energy Association. Clarity on the transition away from fossil fuel heating systems will help provide certainty to the industry, while the boiler upgrade scheme and innovation funding will help drive consumer demand for low carbon heating technologies and costs down. And, while we never have enough to upgrade the current building stock to the levels of energy efficiency, warmth and health required, additional support for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant and Public Sector decarbonisation is also very much welcomed. We are disappointed to see limited focus on energy efficiency within the strategy. To reach net zero it is important that we take a fabric first approach. We look forward to hearing more on the Government’s plans to reducing electricity bills in the Spring.”

Media Enquiries: Samantha.crichton@sustainableenergyassociation.com

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