The British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) has welcomed the Government's sustained commitment to develop the renewable heat market by announcing its intention to launch the Renewable Heat Incentive from June 2011.
BEAMA marketing director Kelly Butler said: 'The UK's legally binding renewable energy target always meant that a Renewable Heat Incentive had to be launched, despite the economic challenges we face. The real challenge now is to ensure the scheme is designed to be attractive to the customer - and help grow the market for important technologies such as heat pumps.
'The Government's own 2050 Pathways Scenarios largely point us towards a future dominated by the electrification of heat and transport. The Government's announcement will set us on the right path to meet renewable targets, and build a confident heat pump market to meet the longer-term 2050 aspiration.
'Now the real work starts as we gear up the heat pump industry to deliver the 1.4m heat pumps to be installed by 2020, as we predicted to Government.'
BEAMA represents some 150 companies in the UK electrotechnical and allied manufacturing industries.
Baxi Group has also welcomed the Government’s £860 million funding commitment to the RHI alongside other measures to stimulate the take-up of low and zero carbon (LZC) heating technologies.
“We are delighted the Government has given its backing to the RHI,” said Simon Osborne, specification channel manager at Baxi Group. “At last, we have the clarity the industry has been demanding in order to drive the rapid development and uptake of these technologies. The RHI is a vital initiative that will help the UK reduce its carbon emissions more quickly and effectively address issues with fuel poverty”.
He added: “We are also pleased to see the ongoing commitment to the Warm Front scheme, albeit at a reduced level, the outline plans for the introduction of the Green Deal and the announcement of an investment programme to deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes over the spending review period”.