The Government's long-awaited Comprehensive Spending review was announced last month. Reactions to it have been mixed, as the following quotes illustrate:
The British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) marketing director Kelly Butler: '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.'
Thomas Farquhar, sales manager for MCS accreditation specialist Easy MCS: 'This will be a major boost for [renewable heat installers] as they are going to see a huge fluctuation in demand for their services which will inevitably lead to job creation...
'The only challenge the industry is now facing is one of a shortage of MCS accredited and quality installers.'
Pippa Wibberley, director of heating at Daikin UK: 'While clarity is still required on funding and delivery mechanisms, [the] initial commitment [to carbon reduction] is a positive sign and affirms how vital initiatives such as the RHI are for the future of the low carbon economy...
'A June 2011 launch for the RHI would be extremely positive... Swift and certain implementation of the RHI is vital to remedy the current lack of funding for the installation of solar thermal systems and heat pumps.'
Chris Edwards, sales and marketing director of Purmo UK: 'What we must remember... in the rush to use renewable technologies, is that we already have some excellent products that have been tried and tested over many decades.
'Radiators must be seen as part of the system solution when using renewable energy sources. The skill will come in ensuring we are specifying, sizing and installing radiators correctly so that they work at optimum efficiencies at lower temperatures.'
Keith Marshall OBE, chief executive at SummitSkills: 'We are pleased with the announcement of a Green Skills Bank, which supports the Government's devotion to a low carbon future. However I do have some slight concerns as it looks at the moment that the funding from this Bank will only be available to larger projects which may have a limited value for the sector.
'The plan to increase funding for adult apprentices is something that SummitSkills fully supports and has in the past been fighting to introduce. However, again I have some concerns with the potentially unrealistic targets... I still believe that in the long term it's important that the sector continues to train and I would like to see more adult apprentices included.'
Keith Jones, managing director of Plumb Center: 'The industry has started to make real progress with renewable technologies and this funding will be the catalyst needed to take it to the next level.'
Simon Osborne, specification channel manager at Baxi Group: 'The RHI is a vital initiative that will help the UK reduce its carbon emissions more quickly and effectively address issues with fuel poverty...
'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'.