Heat networks

‘Dearth of discussion’ over potential wind-down of gas networks

‘Significant issues’ with government’s major energy schemes

ESO calls for faster decision on future of heat

Heat pump training grants to tackle skills shortage

Utilita backs clustered heat pump installations to drive down costs

EDF to trial demand flexibility tariffs for low carbon tech

EDF is developing new tariffs designed to encourage customers to use low carbon technologies at non-peak times. In partnership with smart energy system manufacturer Landis + Gyr and research consultancy LCP Delta, EDF has launched a trial to look at a series of new customer offerings. The new tariffs are being designed to encourage the uptake of low carbon technologies as well as shift usage away from peak times. 

Call for tax breaks extension for energy saving materials

The government is being urged to provide tax breaks for a wider range of energy saving materials. In a joint letter to the Treasury, the likes of EDF, Ovo and Eon call for tax relief for energy saving materials to be extended for technologies such as batteries, smart thermal stores and home electric vehicle chargers. The technologies on the Energy Saving Materials list are exempt from VAT, but the list has not been updated since 2006.

Hybrid heat pump support ‘coming soon’

UK’s first geothermal heat network wins funding

A scheme to warm thousands of Cornish homes with heat extracted from rocks more than 5 kilometres below the earth’s surface has been awarded £22 million of government funding. The Langarth deep geothermal heat network – the first of its kind in the UK - is one of seven projects to receive a share of £91 million handed out from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.

Limited ‘window of opportunity’ to bolster UK infrastructure

The UK is at risk of missing the “window of opportunity” to prepare the country’s infrastructure for the effects of climate change, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) and Climate Change Committee (CCC) have warned. The two organisations have urged ministers to urgently develop more effective plans to improve the resilience of infrastructure, in a joint letter sent to deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden and environment secretary Thérèse Coffey. They warn that not doing so puts the country’s infrastructure at risk.

Octopus calls out hydrogen champion’s ‘misleading’ claims

A coalition of 20 organisations including Octopus Energy, E3G and the UK Green Building Council have called on the government to reject recommendations made by hydrogen champion Jane Toogood. The coalition has labelled Toogood’s report on hydrogen and heat electrification as “misleading” and warns that accepting her recommendations risks driving up consumer bills and could undermine the government’s targets on heat pumps.

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?

Heat pump stats alleviate cold weather performance fears

Central heating use plummets as public seeks alternatives