Electrification

Scrap heat pump and solar planning rules, urges thinktank

Planning rules on the installation of rooftop solar panels and heat pumps should be scrapped, a new report by an influential right-wing thinktank has urged. The Policy Exchange’s report, Re-engineering regulation: an A-Z of reform, outlines 26 case studies of regulation with "unintended, perverse consequences".

SSEN forecasts 1,300% increase in heat pumps by 2030

£90m of boiler upgrade funding lost after not being spent

Centrica: DNOs are holding up EV and heat pump connections

DNOs are unable to deal with an increasing volume of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint and heat pump connection requests, according to Centrica. In particular, Centrica has raised concerns around “chronic capacity shortages”, lengthy response times to connection requests and charging inconsistencies.

Is the latest energy plan fit for purpose?

Ministers urged to ban gas grid connections in new homes

Heat pump stats alleviate cold weather performance fears

Local powers sought to ban technologies in new heat zones

Hydrogen village trials won’t go ahead without public support

Hydrogen village trials will only go ahead in areas where there is strong public support for them, the government has confirmed. The announcement comes following local protests against plans for a hydrogen village trail in Whitby in Ellesmere Port.

Calls for levy exemptions to be extended to domestic bills

The government has been urged to extend the policy costs exemptions proposed for energy-intensive businesses to bring domestic bills down. It comes after the recently-formed Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced new measures to drastically reduce energy costs for 300 heavy industry firms. Committee on Fuel Poverty chair Caroline Flint was among those giving their reaction to Utility Week, saying support for industry cannot be at the expense of households.

Octopus engineers trained to upgrade fuses for heat pumps

Heat pump target to stay despite industry warning

Government is sticking to its heat pump installation target, despite warnings from industry that doing so could undermine efforts to decarbonise the UK’s heating network. A new report by the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) warns that focussing on a set target of heat pumps could in fact prove counterproductive in efforts to decarbonise the UK’s heating network.

Weekend press round-up: Suppliers stop clawing back debts via PPMs

In our latest round-up of the weekend press, suppliers stop clawing back debts from customers on prepayment meters, an energy boss warns high energy bills are here to stay and Anglian Water is fined £500,000 after sewage discharges led to the death of thousands of fish.

Ofgem blames outsourcer for boiler upgrade scheme delays

Heat pump scheme budget ‘not likely’ to be spent