Thread by @heatpolicyrich

'From laggard to leader: How the UK can capitalise on the heat pump opportunity'

My recent @BusinessGreen op-ed is now available open-access on the @RegAssistProj website (mini-thread)

raponline.org/blog/laggard-t…

Fundamentally, heat pumps are expected to be central to the global energy transition (see @IEA, @HeatRoadmapEU, @beisgovuk, @theCCCuk, @UKERCHQ). The UK's large heating appliance manufacturing base could pivot into this strategically important tech.

@KensaHeatPumps and @Ecodanheating already provide heat pumps to the UK market, but the majority are imported. @vaillantuk are currently setting up a manufacturing line for their own air source units in Belper. But more investment is needed to fully realise the opportunity.

This investment in manufacturing and skills, can be driven by policy certainty which goes beyond deployment targets (welcome as they are). The industry is clearly keen with some green shoots visible, but many of these shoots have been made in good faith. To create certainty:

1. The future homes standard legislation for new buildings post-2025 should be bought forward to provide a guarantee to industry and to prevent legislative delay. Fossil fuel heating in new homes should be clearly banned.

2. The heat and buildings strategy should be published immediately to create momentum and provide soft political support for the heat pump sector.

3. As part of the strategy, the details around the clean heat grant, including timing and support levels should be published. The post March 22 heat policy chasm needs to be filled asap.

Just to end, it's worth saying that while heat pumps are likely to be central, a huge amount of work is needed elsewhere across the heat and buildings sector including on energy efficiency and networks policy.

@threadreaderapp unroll please