UK Inquiry Tracker

Decarbonising home heating

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 22 Mar 2024 Closed: 29 May 2024 Parliament page

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 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 for heat pumps to a minimum market capacity of 600,000 installations per year by 2028 – an eleven-fold increase from 55,000 heat pump sales in 2022. Heat pumps and heat networks are envisaged by Government as the primary low-carbon technology for the decarbonisation of home heating over the next decade. It also set 2026 as the year by which evidence would be developed to inform decisions on the future role of hydrogen in home heating. In March 2024, the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report on progress in decarbonising home heating found that trials of hydrogen schemes intended to support government decision-making are either delayed or cancelled. It also found that the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme has achieved a lower than expected uptake, with expectations for the increase in heat pump installations by 2028 based on optimistic assumptions. The Committee’s reports on the Renewable Heat Incentive (2018) and the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme (2021) found that both schemes underperformed, provided poor value for money, and were also based on over-optimistic promises. Based on the NAO report, the Committee will hear from senior officials at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), on how Government intends to deliver emission reductions in home heating, which will be key to meeting the overall target to achieve net zero by 2050. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit it here by 23:59 on 10 April 2024. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. This inquiry was closed due to the 2024 General Election. Show less

16 Recommendations

23 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Letter

1 Event

Activity timeline 5 events

11 Jul
2025

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty-seventh report from Session 2023-24

26 May
2024

Report published

Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonising home heating

8 May
2024

Correspondence

Correspondence from Richard Warren, Director of Public Affairs, The Kensa Group, re Decarbonising Home Heating, dated 1 May 2024

24 Apr
2024

Oral evidence

Decarbonising home heating

24 Apr
2024

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Decarbonising home heating

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

3 results

6 Conclusion Rejected

Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…

Set out how to test hydrogen for heating across all property types for informed decisions.

DESNZ’s work to test hydrogen for heating has been beset with problems, with key trials cancelled. DESNZ has committed to deciding on the role of hydrogen for heating in 2026. Major trials intended to support its decision have been cancelled … Read more

Government Response

The government explicitly disagrees with the recommendation to set out decommissioning plans by June 2025, stating that a full assessment will require more time due to the complexity and uncertainty of future energy scenarios.

HM Treasury

View details

34 Recommendation Rejected

Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…

Uncertainty surrounds future of gas networks and significant decommissioning costs.

Hydrogen UK and the National Audit Office reported that there was also uncertainty over the future role of the gas networks, if it is decided that hydrogen has a limited role and electricity becomes the main energy source.69 This included … Read more

Government Response

Government explicitly rejects the recommendation for a full assessment on the future of gas networks and decommissioning costs, stating it requires more time, while acknowledging ongoing work to understand scenarios and funding.

HM Treasury

View details

35 Recommendation Rejected

Thirty-Seventh Report - Decarbonis…

DESNZ possesses limited understanding of future gas network decommissioning costs and feasibility.

Although DESNZ clarified that gas networks will be needed for some considerable time, it accepted that it needed to increase its work to look at future decommissioning. The NAO found that DESNZ’s work on the costs and feasibility of gas … Read more

Government Response

The government explicitly rejects the recommendation for a full assessment of gas network decommissioning costs and feasibility, stating it would require more time. However, it acknowledges the importance and describes ongoing work with regulators and industry to understand decommissioning needs in different scenarios.

HM Treasury

View details

Government Response AI assessment · 39 of 16 classified

Accepted 11

Accepted in Part 5

Acknowledged 9

Deferred 11

Rejected 3

Total 16 recs + 23 conclusions

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