What is the 10-point Green Plan?
The 10-point plan outlines the approach and steps the government will take to reduce carbon emissions and make the UK a global leader in green technologies. The plan covers a number of different areas including offshore wind power, combustion engines and increased emphasis on hydrogen power.
- Quadrupling offshore wind capacity by 2030
- Driving the growth of low carbon hydrogen (including an entire town to be powered by hydrogen by the end of the decade)
- Investment in New and Advanced Nuclear Power
- Promotion of green methods of public transport
- Support of green aviation and maritime sectors
- Greener buildings (including a £1bn fund to extend schemes such as the Green Homes Grant and the targeting of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028)
- Investment in Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage
- Protection of the natural environment and landscape
- Green finance and revolution
- The full details of the plan can be viewed on the Government website
FAQs on the Government’s 10 point plan
How does this affect the availability of boilers?
When the plan was announced it did say that a ban on gas fired boilers from new build homes would be brought forward to 2023, however this has now been removed from the official Government website. It is expected that a ban on natural gas boilers in new build homes will be from 2025. This will have no effect on the availability of boilers on the lead up to this date or post-2025, and installers will still be able to install natural gas boilers up to this date to any property type. After 2025, existing homes will still be able to have natural gas boilers installed.
What type of homes will the gas boiler ban be applicable to?
It is expected that the ban on gas boilers will initially include boilers fitted in new build homes only.Pre-built homes will not have to adhere to these same restrictions.
How will it affect me?
This will depend on the type of property you own. For owners of new build houses built after 2025, this ban will be in place. For other homeowners looking to upgrade their heating system, this ban will not come into effect.
Will boilers still be available to purchase through my installer even after the ban in new builds has come into effect?
Yes. To reiterate the ban on gas boilers is only applicable to new build homes from 2025. Other properties will still be suitable for new gas boilers to be fitted for the foreseeable future.
My current boiler is working fine. Do I need to change it and what happens if I don't?
A typical boiler’s lifespan is between 12 and 15 years without the need for it to be replaced. With this in mind, any boiler installed within this time frame will operate efficiently. For longevity ensure that you have it regularly serviced on an annual basis. If you are experiencing issues you can contact the manufacturer who will be able to send an engineer out to identify the problem and either repair or, if required, replace it.
What alternatives will be available to me if gas boilers are to be replaced?
There are no current plans or dates for gas boilers to be entirely phased out. If gas boilers are to be replaced in the future, there a number of alternative options to be available, including innovative hydrogen-ready boilers and heat pumps.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is an alternative means of heating your home using electricity. A heat pump takes the available heat from the ground or air surrounding a property and increases it to a more useful temperature for use in the home. This source of heat can be used to create warm air or water (for space and central heating) as well as hot water (for both central heating and domestic hot water supply). Heat pumps also serve a dual purpose and can cool properties during summer months.
When will hydrogen boilers be available?
While hydrogen boilers are not currently available on the market, we have developed a prototype which can operate on 100% hydrogen gas.
Worcester Bosch and other heating manufacturers have called for all new boilers installed from 2025 to be ‘hydrogen-ready’.The 10-point plan is a positive step in the right direction with further investment into hydrogen technology and production on the horizon.
How much does a hydrogen boiler cost, in comparison to the one I have installed in my home?
Pricing is yet to be confirmed, however hydrogen-ready boilers are expected to be available at a similar cost to natural gas boilers today, due to the fact that the majority of the boiler’s components are identical to those in natural gas boilers.
Hydrogen
A hydrogen-ready boiler is a gas-fired heating boiler which is capable of burning either natural gas or pure (100%) hydrogen.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is a relatively new technology in the UK although they are widely used in Scandinavia and many parts of Europe where there is an abundance of renewably sourced electricity.
Hybrid Systems
A hybrid heating and hot water system is a combination of two or more technologies generating heat to provide heating and hot water to the home or building.