CIBSE said 'It is hugely useful and welcome to see not only the first carbon budget for a net zero carbon UK, but also a routemap to deliver it, and at lower overall GDP costs than previously estimated.
'The CCC's work provides a comprehensive and thorough review of scenarios, options, and recommendations for a just transition, which make it clear how government, industry and society should respond.
'For the building sector, the CCC very much echo what CIBSE has been recommending: reducing demand and energy efficiency are essential, combined with electrification and building the supply chain for low-carbon heat. Hydrogen cannot currently be relied on to play a significant role nor reduce the need for all of these.
'The next steps are clear: turning this routemap into a regulatory framework for safe, healthy, and comfortable net zero carbon buildings. We very much support Lord Deben's priority ask to the Prime Minister: 'get on with the change in efficiency and heating; there are too many people in cold homes, and this transition will also be the largest creator of jobs'.'
Darren McMahon, Viessmann's marketing director, said: 'We commend the ambition to reduce emissions in buildings to zero by 2050 in line with net zero legislation. The CCC report rightly notes that emissions reductions from heating have flatlined since 2015 and much further needs to be done to promote low carbon heating and efficiency investment in the 2020's.
'We are particularly encouraged by the proposed mixed approach to decarbonising heat, under the balanced net zero pathway scenario set out in the CCC. If achieved, this would lead to the scaling up of the heat pump market to deliver one million installations by 2030, the expansion of heat networks and extended trials to test the viability of hydrogen for heat. This, accompanied by the proposed accelerated deployment of no-regret measures such as energy efficiency (over one million insulation measures proposed per year by 2025) can lead to a 34% reduction of emissions from heating by 2030. These objectives are entirely feasible and in line with Viessmann’s vision on heating decarbonisation in the UK which we have consistently advocated since 2015.
'This evolution in the heating market is something that Viessmann encourages and prepares for through innovation and investment across electric and hydrogen heating, efficiency and smart technology. We do recognise the need to phase out the installation of fossil fuel boilers, in advance of 2035, starting from new build by 2025 the latest. These changes are necessary to scale up the market for heat pumps, low-carbon heat networks and hydrogen heating – if hydrogen proves viable in the 2020s.
'An area where the excellent CCC analysis could go further is in considering fully the opportunity to take gas heating efficiency further. Rather than focusing on mandating hydrogen ready boilers – a solution which although straightforward to produce will not generate efficiency or carbon gains in the absence of mass hydrogen supply – it is important to evaluate properly and not overlook technology that allows cost-effective use of gas (transitioning to hydrogen eventually) such as gas CHP for district heating and fuel cells for residential heating, which generate electricity locally to power heat pumps and EVs.'
Mitsubishi Electric welcomed the recommendations from the CCC on the need to rapidly scale up heat pump supply chains in its latest report.
Russell Dean, head of residential heating at Mitsubishi Electric said: “The endorsement from the Climate Change Committee - that low-carbon heating sources, such as heat pumps, will be critical in helping the UK progress on its road to net zero - is very welcomed. The move to more sustainable home heating and the rapid decarbonisation of our building stock is an essential step to reducing emissions.
“We recently saw the government putting in measures to help meet its target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028. The CCC has now recommended we need to install over a million per year by 2030 to increase the energy efficiency of our homes. Installers therefore need to quickly assess whether they have the necessary skills to support customers with their low-carbon needs, and if not, rapidly address their training needs. Otherwise they stand to miss out on the huge benefits that growth in the heat-pump market will provide.”
“By creating a greater awareness amongst both homeowners and installers on the benefits of heat pumps, as well as government incentive schemes to encourage uptake, the decarbonisation of homes can increase at pace, ensuring we reach our climate commitments,” concluded Russell.