With a recent Government grant aiming to upskill UK heating engineers to work with low-carbon technology, polymer pipework manufacturer REHAU is advising that an all-encompassing approach to project specification will be key to decarbonising the nation’s heating.
The Heat Training Grant, which was launched in March by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), is applicable to trainees working with both heat pumps and heat networks, with discounts or rebates of up to £500 offered through their training provider.
With this in mind, Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU Building Solutions, believes that active support for both technologies will be key to achieving net zero.
He said: “The Government has continued to show support for the development of low-carbon technologies in the UK, with initiatives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and now the Heat Training Grant set to boost uptake of heat pumps.
“That said, it’s important to remember that no single technology will be able to bear the load of the nation’s decarbonisation goals alone. For this reason, it’s critical that heating industry professionals have the means to install a variety of low-carbon solutions. This also presents an opportunity for synergy between technologies to draw the maximum benefit, including integrating heat pumps and heat network solutions.”
Over the course of the two-year scheme, the Government aims to support around 10,000 new trainees as they become certified installers of heat pumps or district heating networks.
Statista indicates that there are 238,000 heat pumps currently in operation in the UK, compared to 14,000 heat networks, according to the Association for Decentralised Energy.
Moreover, heat pumps and heat networks have the potential to be used in tandem for a low-carbon heating system, making use of one large centralised heat pump to provide heat and hot water to multiple residential or commercial buildings.
Steve concluded: “The successful upskilling of the nation’s workforce to install and maintain low-carbon technologies will make or break the UK’s climate goals. However, the Heat Training Grant is clearly a step in the right direction. By championing uptake of both heat pumps and heat networks, we can ensure that every household is able to benefit from low-carbon technology as we look to a greener future.
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