The UK arm of European utilities giant EDF has announced a strategic investment and partnership with domestic heat pump installer CB Heating. A major focus of the deal will be to create an end-to-end installation service for heat pumps in the UK, using CB Heating’s national network of partners. This Heat Pump Installers Network (HPIN) provides 500 approved heat pump installers.
The move is timed to coincide with the beginning of grants of £5,000 being awarded for the installation of eligible heat pump systems as part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
HPIN training academy
The company’s investment in CB Heating, which is based in Clacton, Essex, will also help fund the development of an HPIN training academy. The academy will focus on creating up to 4,000 new skilled installers to deliver heat pumps from autumn 2022.
EDF cited recent estimates from the MCS certification body that concluded that the UK has less than 4,000 qualified heat pump installers currently working in the country. By comparison, the country has 100,000 engineers that are Gas Safe registered.
heat pump installation
CB Heat reflected the importance to energy providers of shifting away from relying on gas for power and heat
The company is the latest utility provider operating in the UK to announce investment in heat pump installation capabilities in line with broader government aims to have 600,000 heat pumps introduced annually from 2028. British Gas and Octopus Energy have both announced this year that they would be investing in launching heat pump services for the UK Market.
Philippe Commaret, managing director of customers at EDF, said the company’s investment and partnership in an installer such as CB Heat reflected the importance to energy providers of shifting away from relying on gas for power and heat.
decarbonization strategy
He said, “This is the first step in delivering on our long-term strategy of decarbonization of heat. Through investment in training and upskilling engineers in each region of the country through the unique HPIN academy, this ambitious and regionally focussed approach will see EDF working with smaller businesses and local installers to help Britain achieve net zero.”
Clayton Browne, managing director with CB Heating, said the company’s creation of a Heat Pump Installer Network (HPIN) was allowing for installations to be carried out on a national scale by partnering with local specialists.
Zero Carbon Electricity
HPIN embraces a real sense of togetherness working together, sharing our 20 years of specialist knowledge"
He said, “HPIN embraces a real sense of togetherness working together, sharing our 20 years of specialist knowledge and experience with existing heating companies with training and support as they transition from fossil fuel boilers over to low carbon heat pump technology.”
“Customers can have the confidence of buying from a national company they can trust whilst supporting small business locally, with the backing of Britain’s biggest generator of Zero Carbon electricity.”
affordable and convenient heat pumps
Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan said the investment, along with the launch of the government’s BUS incentive, would help ensure heat pumps could be an affordable and convenient means of replacing gas or oil boilers along with private sector investment.
He said, “This will open up huge opportunities for private sector investment, which companies like EDF and CB Heating are already taking advantage of, ensuring installers are ready to help households move to cleaner heating to keep their homes warm and avoid the volatile prices of fossil fuels.”
