A whitepaper exploring the policy landscape around hybrid heat pump systems has been launched to provide a series of key findings which inform a recommended rollout of the technology in the UK.
Leading manufacturer of heating and hot water solutions Baxi commissioned Gemserv (a Talan Company) to research and produce the report – entitled Unlocking the Power of Heat Pumps with Hybrid Installations – which was launched at an event in Westminster this week.
Exploring the suitability of heat pumps deployed in hybrid configuration with new or existing gas boilers for UK homes, the paper highlights series of policy recommendations designed to help accelerate heat decarbonisation. These include consideration for eligibility under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, better representation of hybrid systems’ carbon saving benefits under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism and a rebalancing of electricity prices to help reduce running costs.
The launch follows the announcement of the government’s Warm Homes Plan, which saw increased funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and a reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism as part of plans to increase the uptake of heat pumps in the UK.
Building on ambition from the Government to progress heat decarbonisation, Baxi has commissioned the report to demonstrate how hybrid systems could be a key transitional technology to clean heat.
Jeff House, External Affairs and Policy Director at Baxi, explains: “There has been no shortage of ambition to decarbonise heat in the UK, as demonstrated through the Government’s commitment to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and the additional support provided through the Warm Homes Plan. However, we wanted to commission this report to demonstrate that there is a real missed opportunity when it comes to including hybrid systems within these policies.
“Whilst heat pumps, whether deployed individually or at the heart of heat networks, will be one of the key mass market drivers of decarbonised heat, we have a responsibility to ensure a balanced and equitable transition in line with consumer needs. A hybrid system offers advantages as a transitional technology, not only in terms of overcoming some technical barriers to make them more cost effective in difficult to decarbonise homes, but also for energy system flexibility and resilience.”
The report also highlights learnings from the rest of Europe, including countries that are incentivising the installation of hybrid systems as a transition technology. For example, following extensive deployment in the Netherlands, the state was considering whether to mandate hybrid systems as the minimum requirement for all retrofit installations.
Jeff continues: “By including hybrids in more incentives such as Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Clean Heat Market Mechanism, we can expect to see the same spikes in uptake that there have been in Europe. Add to the addressing of the gap between electricity and gas prices for householders and we could well see uptake for clean heat technologies accelerate at the rate we need it to.”
The exclusive launch event, which took place on 28th November in Westminster, included an in-depth panel discussion on hybrid systems with industry experts from Gemserv, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Heat Pump Association and Passiv UK.
To read Unlocking the Power of Heat Pumps with Hybrid Installations, click here.
