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Star Renewable Energy has urged energy customers to invest in renewable heating technology before the Renewable Heat Incentive ceases in five years' time.
The heat pump firm said that energy users should invest in renewable heating technologies before government incentives to support their uptake ends.
Star Renewable Energy (SRE) claimed that large heatpumps are the only scalable renewable heat system capable of becoming zero carbon by 2050.
SRE technical engineer Nicky Cowan said: “Proven renewable heating technologies that avoid burning gas, particularly large district heat pumps, are becoming one of the most talked about topics for governments and increasingly recognised as the best way to combat climate change.
“According to the Committee on Climate Change, heating may have to almost fully decarbonise if the UK is to hit its long-term goal of an 80% reduction in emissions by 5050.”
The comments came at a Future of Thermal Energy conference this week and highlighted that when the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – which currently supports heat pumps – ends in 2021, investment in the technology will not be supported.
SRE director Dave Pearson said: “Despite ignoring the cooling opportunities from large heatpumps and using quite pessimistic efficiencies, government research shows the future heating demand will be mostly met by heatpumps. Whilst gas being very cheap and electricity taxed more heavily are counter-productive, the RHI makes heatpumps a future proof investment.”
Speakers at the conference also emphasised that, all new investment in heating will need to be zero carbon by 2035 to meet government heat targets.
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