A whitepaper exploring the policy landscape around hybrid heat pump systems has been launched to provide a series of key findings that inform a recommended rollout of the technology in the UK.
Global manufacturer of heating and hot water solutions - Baxi commissioned Gemserv (a Talan Company) to research and produce the report – entitled Unlocking the Power of Heat Pumps with Hybrid Installations – which was launched at an event in Westminster this week.
heat pumps in hybrid configuration
Exploring the suitability of heat pumps deployed in a hybrid configuration with new or existing gas boilers for UK homes, the paper highlights a series of policy recommendations designed to help accelerate heat decarbonization.
These include consideration for eligibility under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, better representation of hybrid systems’ carbon-saving benefits under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, and a rebalancing of electricity prices to help reduce running costs.
Warm Homes Plan
Baxi has commissioned the report to demonstrate how hybrid systems could be a key transitional technology
The launch follows the announcement of the government’s Warm Homes Plan, which saw increased funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and a reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism as part of plans to increase the uptake of heat pumps in the UK.
Building on the ambition of the Government to progress heat decarbonization, Baxi has commissioned the report to demonstrate how hybrid systems could be a key transitional technology to clean heat.
Clean Energy Superpower
Jeff House, External Affairs and Policy Director at Baxi, explains, "There has been no shortage of ambition to decarbonize heat in the UK, as demonstrated through the Government’s commitment to making Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and the additional support provided through the Warm Homes Plan."
He adds, "However, we wanted to commission this report to demonstrate that there is a real missed opportunity when it comes to including hybrid systems within these policies."
decarbonized heat
Jeff House continues, "While heat pumps, whether deployed individually or at the heart of heat networks, will be one of the key mass-market drivers of decarbonized heat, we have a responsibility to ensure a balanced and equitable transition in line with consumer needs."
He further states, "A hybrid system offers advantages as a transitional technology, not only in terms of overcoming some technical barriers to make them more cost-effective in difficult to decarbonize homes, but also for energy system flexibility and resilience."
incentivizing the installation
Following extensive deployment in the Netherlands, the state was considering whether to mandate hybrid systems
The report also highlights learnings from the rest of Europe, including countries that are incentivizing the installation of hybrid systems as a transition technology.
For example, following extensive deployment in the Netherlands, the state was considering whether to mandate hybrid systems as the minimum requirement for all retrofit installations.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Clean Heat Market Mechanism
Jeff House continues, "By including hybrids in more incentives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Clean Heat Market Mechanism, we can expect to see the same spikes in uptake that there have been in Europe. Add to the addressing of the gap between electricity and gas prices for householders and we could well see uptake for clean heat technologies accelerate at the rate we need it to."
The exclusive launch event, which took place on 28th November in Westminster, included an in-depth panel discussion on hybrid systems with industry experts from Gemserv, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Heat Pump Association, and Passiv UK.