U.K. Lawmakers Warn Net-Zero Target at Risk With Poor Heat Plan

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. government's plans to decarbonize heating in homes “lack strategic direction” and risk missing their goals, according to a committee of lawmakers.

A report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee urged the government to speed up the introduction of low-carbon heating systems across the country. It warned that the target for 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 was at risk and that most people don't realize that their gas boilers will need to be replaced within the next 10 to 15 years. 

“Replacing gas boilers is a huge task and we are not making anywhere near enough progress,” Darren Jones, chair of the BEIS committee, said in a statement. “As it stands, we will miss our net zero target.”

With one of the oldest housing stocks in the world, domestic heating contributes about a quarter of the U.K.'s energy use. The government is issuing grants for homeowners who replace boilers with heat pumps and funding for insulation in poorer households as part of its 3.9 billion-pound ($5.3 billion) Heat and Buildings Strategy.

Still, significant gaps remain between the U.K.'s targets and policy frameworks for low carbon heat, said Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive officer of EnergyUK, which represents the largest suppliers. More needs to be done to engage with consumers on the energy transition, she said.

“The government must act urgently to help speed up delivery and support bill payers and workers who will be affected by the change,” said committee chair Jones.

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