Decarbonising home heating
Public Accounts Committee
Closed
Inquiry
Home heating made up 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. In October of the same year, the Government published its Heat and Buildings Strategy, which has the ambition to end the installation of new fossil fuel boilers by 2035. It also commits to growing the supply chain …
Read more
16
Recommendations
23
Conclusions
1
Report
1
Oral session
1
Letter
1
Event
Activity timeline 5 events
11 Jul
2025
2025
26 May
2024
2024
Report published
8 May
2024
2024
24 Apr
2024
2024
Oral evidence
24 Apr
2024
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
24 Apr 2024
View on parliament.uk
Decarbonising home heating
Ben Rimmington · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
David Capper · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Jeremy Pocklington CB · Ministry of Defence
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonising home heating | HC 653 | 26 May 2024 | 39 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
Government's Heat and Buildings Strategy outlines ambitions for low-carbon heating and heat pump installations.
In October 2021, the government published its Heat and Buildings Strategy. The Strategy stated the government’s ambition to end the installation of new fossil fuel boilers by 2035. It also committed to growing the supply chain for heat pumps to …
Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the observation but notes there is currently no single data source for heat pump installations and is investigating various data sources to cover gaps, stating it cannot commit until a suitable mechanism is found.
HM Treasury
View details
10
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
High electricity prices make heat pumps more expensive to run than gas boilers.
DESNZ recognised that the cost of running heat pumps was also a key barrier to heat pump adoption. It explained that, as they are based on electricity, heat pumps are more expensive to run than fossil fuel boilers because of …
Read more
Government Response
Government agrees with the recommendation to address running costs but defers an implementation date, stating they are considering ways to reduce costs and funding an innovation programme to improve heat pump performance, without specific commitments on the electricity-gas price ratio.
HM Treasury
View details
27
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
New heat network regulations risk increasing costs for social housing residents.
In a written submission to our inquiry, the Chartered Institute of Housing expressed concern that the social housing sector, which it said accounted for over half of all heat networks, would need clear guidance and support to prepare and respond …
Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes that the social housing sector will need support and that Ofgem will be responsible for regulating heat networks. DESNZ is working with Ofgem to ensure a proportionate regulatory framework.
HM Treasury
View details
31
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
Uncertainty over hydrogen's role in heating delays critical industry decarbonisation investments.
Several written submissions to our inquiry highlighted that uncertainty over the role of hydrogen is delaying key decarbonisation investment decisions until government makes a decision on hydrogen. Hydrogen UK, for example, told us that the decisions about trials and recent …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges uncertainty around the role of hydrogen in home heating and is committed to providing clarity, informed by hydrogen village trials, and intends to make strategic decisions in 2026.
HM Treasury
View details
32
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
Widespread customer confusion and industry 'wait and see' approach due to hydrogen uncertainty.
Alongside industry, some written submissions highlighted that households were unclear over the role of hydrogen. Octopus Energy told us that there was “widespread 53 Qq 92, 93 54 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Correspondence – Hydrogen Heating Town …
Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the need to ensure households have clear information about the role of hydrogen in home heating and will continue to work with industry and consumer groups to raise awareness and provide information.
HM Treasury
View details
33
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
DESNZ resists early hydrogen decision despite industry and NAO calls for clarity.
We asked DESNZ if it was aware of the level of uncertainty for industry given that an increasing number of businesses do not know what the government’s position is on heat decarbonisation. DESNZ told us that it needed to “take …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the level of uncertainty for industry and households regarding the role of hydrogen in home heating and believes that a decision on hydrogen should be taken in 2026 to avoid becoming locked into a suboptimal path.
HM Treasury
View details
36
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
Decarbonising electricity generation proves crucial for achieving government net zero targets.
Decarbonising electricity generation is crucial to the government’s net zero strategy, including decarbonising home heating. If, as the government expects, most homes switch their heating systems to heat pumps or heat networks, it is important that these are powered by …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's observations about decarbonising electricity generation and its 2035 ambition. It reiterates its 2030 Clean Power target and the appointment of Chris Stark to lead a 2030 Mission Control to accelerate delivery, with further details to follow.
HM Treasury
View details
37
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
Intermittent renewable energy sources necessitate new flexible low-carbon technologies for grid reliability.
We noted that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are determined by the weather, making them intermittent; a view supported by Hydrogen UK. DESNZ recognised that electricity-based heating may change existing patterns in demand for electricity. It said …
Read more
Government Response
Government agrees with the recommendation but defers an implementation date, referencing a Clean Power by 2030 target and the creation of a '2030 Mission Control' to address obstacles, with further details expected later.
HM Treasury
View details
39
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…
DESNZ shifts focus towards spatial planning for local energy demand and low-carbon connections.
DESNZ told us that, since our inquiry into decarbonising the power sector, it had shifted its emphasis towards the importance of spatial planning. It explained that this involved considering both overall energy demand at a local level, such as for …
Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of spatial planning for decarbonising home heating and is working with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop spatial energy plans.
HM Treasury
View details
Correspondence 1 letter
8 May 2024
Correspondence from Richard Warren, Director of Public Affairs, The Kensa Group, re Decarbonising Home Heating, dated 1 May 2024
Parliament page