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Heat pump stats alleviate cold weather performance fears

Concerns that heat pumps do not perform well in cold weather have been “put to bed”, according to Marc Brown, business leader for homes at Energy Systems Catapult. Brown’s comments come following the publication of interim heat pump performance data which shows heat pumps to be three times more efficient than gas boilers.

2 years ago

Shapps: Very strong case for blending hydrogen and gas

2 years ago

Flint’s challenging first year chairing fuel poverty committee

When Caroline Flint was unveiled just over a year ago as the surprise new chair of the government’s Committee on Fuel Poverty (CfP), the invasion of Ukraine was still germinating in Vladimir Putin’s mind. She speaks to Utility Week about the progress made in the last year and the challenges to come.

2 years ago

Weekend press: Government to end ‘prepayment premium’

The government is to end the “prepayment premium” by picking up the additional costs of the meters from suppliers. Also in Utility Week’s latest round-up of the weekend papers, Ofwat seeks new powers to block excessive dividends to shareholders and Thames Water appoints financial advisors to help tackle its mountain of debt.

2 years ago

Central heating use plummets as public seeks alternatives

2 years ago

Weeks left to spend remaining £95m boiler upgrade funding

Almost two-thirds of the £150 million boiler upgrade scheme (BUS) funding risks being lost at the end of this month. The remaining amount far outweighs the £43.6 million of BUS vouchers redeemed since the scheme was established in April last year. Any money left in the fund will be returned to government at the end of the month.

2 years ago

Testbed scheme boosts hydrogen for homes ambition

The government-backed Hy4Heat programme has successfully developed a series of prototype hydrogen-ready cooking and heating appliances. It has been deemed a success and paves the way for larger trials in real homes.

2 years ago

Local powers sought to ban technologies in new heat zones

2 years ago

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.

2 years ago

Regional energy system planners proposed by Ofgem

2 years ago

Dramatic widening in fuel poverty gap revealed

2 years ago

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.

2 years ago

Octopus engineers trained to upgrade fuses for heat pumps

2 years ago

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.

2 years ago

Hydrogen ‘mixed messages’ undermine boiler scheme

Government "mixed messaging" and "misinformation" about hydrogen’s future role in home heating is unhelpful because the fuel is "not a serious option in the short to medium-term", peers have warned. A Lords committee concludes that the uptake for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been undermined by government messaging on hydrogen.

2 years ago

Citizens Advice CW ends hydrogen village partnership with Cadent

2 years ago

Natwest CEO to chair energy efficiency taskforce

2 years ago

‘Archaic’ Treasury rules threaten heat pump rollout

2 years ago

Unspent boiler upgrade money will be lost, minister admits

The energy minister has admitted that underspends on the £150 million budget this year for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) will be lost and cannot be carried over. The latest figures from Ofgem show the total value of BUS vouchers issued by the end of January was just under £50 million - with only two months remaining for the first phase of the initiative.

2 years ago

How smart are Britain’s energy tariffs?

2 years ago