The future of home heating
You may have seen various headlines about the future of home heating, some claiming gas boilers will be banned by 2025, while others state any changes will only affect new builds. The large variety of claims makes it difficult to figure out the truth, so to make it simple, we’ve covered everything you need to know in this short guide.
What is the future of home heating?
Back in 2019, the UK became the first major economy to enshrine its commitment to be net zero by 2050 in law. But what does this mean? The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 to reduce the UK’s contribution towards global warming by getting to the point where greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by their removal out of the atmosphere. This doesn’t mean that we will produce no carbon, but that any emissions will be offset elsewhere. For example, installing solar or wind power or planting trees will contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions.
Are gas boilers being banned?
The short answer is no. Your gas boiler will continue to run on natural gas for the rest of its lifetime. But change is coming and by working with Worcester Bosch, we plan to be ready for it. By 2025, new builds will be required to install low carbon heating such as air source heat pumps and hyrdrogen ready boilers, to help reduce emissions.
Low to no carbon alternatives such as hydrogen gas are still being trialed and may become a viable alternative in the future. You also have the option of electric heat pumps; which are already available, and hybrid heating systems which incorporate the two. However, there is nothing to say that you can’t buy a gas-fired boiler as it is likely that the sale of gas boilers will not end until the mid 2030s. And if legislation does come into place to stop the sale of these, you can rest assured that we will have hydrogen-ready boilers available for you.
What’s the plan?
The UK government has published its plan for the roll out of hydrogen boilers in the ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’ as follows:
- By 2021 the Hydrogen Strategy will be published and consultation on the Government’s preferred business models for hydrogen will begin.
- 2022 – hydrogen business models will be finalised.
- 2023 – working with industry, the necessary testing will be completed to allow up to 20% blending of hydrogen into the gas distribution grid for all homes on the gas grid.
- By 2023 the government will support industry to begin hydrogen heating trials in a local neighbourhood.
- 2025 – they hope to see 1 GW of Hydrogen production capacity.
- 2025 – the government will support industry to begin a large village hydrogen heating trial and set out plans for a possible pilot hydrogen town before the end of the decade.
Your options
Whilst you don’t need to make the switch just yet, there’s no harm in looking at your options for the future.
Hydrogen boilers
A hydrogen-ready boiler is a gas-fired heating boiler which can burn either natural gas or pure hydrogen. The only by-product of burning hydrogen gas is water, meaning that it is a carbon free fuel source. Hydrogen boilers will be the saviour of many heating systems, as only the boiler will be changed once it has reached the end of its lifecycle, rather than the whole system.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps capture heat from outside to warm your water and home. Although this is a relatively new technology in the UK, they are widely used in many parts of Europe already and provide a great alternative to traditional boilers for well insulated homes.
Hybrid systems
A hybrid heating and hot water system is a combination of two or more technologies generating heat to provide heating and hot water to homes and other buildings.
You’re safe with us
As a Worcester Bosch accredited installer, you can rest assured that we will use our expertise to provide you with the perfect boiler for your needs. All of our current gas boilers already have the potential to run on a 20% hydrogen blend and will be able to run on this for their lifetime. By the time it’s needed, our boilers will be 100% hydrogen-ready.
If you’re looking to replace your boiler and have questions about your heating options, contact us today and the Lewington team will be happy to help.
