好色先生TV

The UK has one of the lowest rates of heat pump installation in Europe despite a government pledge to make the country a world leader in the market.

A government watchdog found the UK installed the least amount of heat pumps per capita on a list of 21 neighbouring countries in 2021 and was 11th out of 21st for the total volume of installations.

The latest annual report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said heat pump installations in the UK were 鈥渨ell below鈥� its forecasted pathway for hitting the government鈥檚 net zero targets, which include reducing carbon emissions by 68% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Finland topped the list with more than 20,000 installations per million of population, followed by Norway, Estonia and Sweden.

France鈥檚 installations were above 5,000 per million, while Germany鈥檚 were around 2,000. The UK鈥檚 installations per million stood at less than 1,000.

Around 72,000 heat pumps were installed in 2022, 69,000 of which were in homes, compared to the 130,000 installations projected by the CCC鈥檚 pathway.

The government has said it is 鈥渇irmly committed to making the UK one of the largest markets in the world for heat pumps鈥� and has set a target to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.

The report follows sharp rises in the cost of heat pump installation, which increased by 10.3% in 2020 and 19.2% in 2021. Labour costs also rose during the period by 13.7% and 17.8% respectively.

While installation costs fell by 1.9% in 2022, and unit costs dropped by 6.7%, system component prices rose by 4.9% and labour costs edged up further by 0.7%.

The watchdog also said the number of trained heat pump installers is 鈥渟ignificantly off track鈥� compared to its recommendation, suggesting that supply chains and workforce upskilling is not scaling up at the rates required to meet government targets.

The slow progress in the growth of the domestic heat pump market was one of several factors which the CCC said were eating away at the UK鈥檚 leadership on net zero.

CCC chairman John Gummer said the government鈥檚 commitment to act on climate pledges had 鈥渨aned鈥� since the UK鈥檚 presidency of the COP26 climate conference in 2021.

Gummer said ministers had shown 鈥渉esitancy to commit fully鈥� to key pledges made at the summit, adding that the CCC鈥檚 confidence in the achievement of the 2030 target had 鈥渕arkedly declined鈥� in the last year.

鈥淚 urge government to find the courage to place climate change once again at the heart of its leadership. It would be a terrible error if we in Britain hesitate just as the rest of the world wakes up to the opportunity of Net Zero,鈥� he said.

COP26 chairman and former business secretary Alok Sharma told the BBC the UK was at risk of losing its 鈥渋nternational reputation and influence on climate鈥�.

鈥淩esting on our laurels is definitely not the answer industry is seeking,鈥� he said.

The UK Green 好色先生TV Council called the report a 鈥渄eeply troubling assessment鈥�. The organisation鈥檚 deputy chief executive Simon McWhirter said the UK鈥檚 low ranking for heat pump installations showed how 鈥渟everely off-track鈥� the government was on its net zero progress.

鈥淭he time window is closing rapidly and the UK needs a step-change in direct investment and policies that will enable home insulation and the switch to electric heating at pace and scale,鈥� McWhirter said.

A government spokesperson insisted the UK was still a world leader on net zero and could be 鈥減roud鈥� of its track record.

鈥淲e are going far beyond other countries and delivering tangible progress whilst bringing down energy bills with hundreds of pounds coming off bills from next month,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he UK is cutting emissions faster than any other G7 country and attracted billions of investment into renewables, which now account for 40% of our electricity. 

鈥淚n the last year alone, we have confirmed the first state backing of a nuclear project in over 30 years and invested billions to kickstart new industries like carbon capture and floating offshore wind.

鈥淲ith a new department dedicated to delivering net zero and energy security, we are driving economic growth, creating jobs, bringing down energy bills, and reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels.鈥�

Two industry groups have been set up in recent months to fill gaps in the government commitments to improving energy efficiency in buildings.

In May, the National Home Decarbonisation Group was set up by firms including Mace and Vinci with the aim to advise on retrofit policy and stimulate innovation.

Earlier this month two co-chairs were appointed to lead the new National Retrofit Hub, a body formed by around 40 industry groups including the Federation of Master Builders and sponsored by government agency Innovate UK.