🔋 Heat Batteries: Decarbonising Homes

• Gas Dependency and Rising Costs: Deirdre Costigan highlighted that the UK’s heavy reliance on gas, especially Russian gas, has led to skyrocketing gas bills, which increased dramatically in October 2022. This situation has left many, particularly in her Ealing Southall constituency, struggling to afford heating their homes.

• Previous Government’s Shortcomings: Costigan criticized the previous government for blocking renewable energy solutions like onshore wind farms and cutting funds for solar panels and home insulation. She mentioned that these decisions have cost the UK an estimated £3 billion in additional gas bills.

• Current Government Actions: The new government has initiated several steps to address energy dependency, including setting up Great British Energy, lifting the ban on onshore wind farms, and investing in offshore wind. These measures aim to make the UK fully energy self-sufficient by 2030, with 95% of power from clean sources.

• Budgetary Investments: The recent Budget included £3.4 billion for the warm homes plan, aimed at upgrading 300,000 homes next year. This includes grants for installing heat pumps and support for renters and low-income households.

• Heat Pumps and Heat Batteries: While heat pumps are a key part of the government’s strategy, Costigan emphasized the potential of heat batteries as an alternative, especially for homes unsuitable for heat pumps. Companies like Kensa and Tepeo are innovating in this area, offering solutions such as networked ground source heat pumps and zero emission boilers.

• Barriers to Adoption: Currently, heat batteries do not receive the same financial incentives as heat pumps, such as grants under the boiler upgrade scheme or VAT relief. Costigan urged the government to consider extending these benefits to heat batteries to encourage their use.

• Rural Communities: The debate touched on the challenges faced by rural areas, particularly those dependent on oil heating. Suggestions were made for policies and incentives to help these communities transition to more sustainable heating solutions like heat pumps.

• Future Homes Standard: The government is expected to introduce new heating requirements for new homes, with a focus on incorporating emerging technologies like heat batteries.

• Electricity Market Reforms: The discussion included a need to reform the electricity market so that renewable energy sources are not unfairly priced based on gas prices, which could make heat pumps and heat batteries more cost-effective.

• Government’s Response: Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh responded by acknowledging the need for a varied approach to heating, including the ongoing review of heat batteries. She emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing gas dependency and promoting affordable, clean heating solutions through the warm homes plan and other initiatives.

The session on ‘Heat Batteries: Decarbonising Homes’ exhibits very little disagreement. The debate is characterized by a series of supportive interventions and affirmations from different Members of Parliament across parties, with a clear focus on advancing the decarbonisation agenda through heat batteries and other technologies. Deirdre Costigan (Lab) presents the motion and makes several points, which are met with supportive interventions from other MPs, including Sarah Dyke (LD), Jim Shannon (DUP), Tom Hayes (Lab), and others, who all emphasize the urgency and importance of the topic. The Minister, Miatta Fahnbulleh, responds positively, aligning with the general sentiment of the debate and outlining government actions and plans that support the proposed solutions. There is no overt opposition or significant contention among the participants. The session ends with a collaborative and optimistic tone, suggesting a unified approach towards addressing the issue of decarbonising homes.