Neil Schofield, head of government and external affairs at Worcester, Bosch Group, believes the Committee on Climate Change’s ‘Next steps to UK heat policy’ report offers clear direction for the heating industry to follow in its bid to green Britain’s heating supplies.

He said: “At long last we appear to have robust advice for the government to follow which acknowledges that energy policy needs to be about more than simply switching the lights off. Heat represents 40% of the energy we consume and 20% of our Greenhouse Gas emissions, so it is pleasing to see the Committee on Climate Change produce such a welcome roadmap for heating efficiency.”

Mr Schofield said that, by indicating that hydrogen could prove to be a sustainable long-term alternative to natural gas, the report effectively advises the government to stay faithful to our gas grid, which is the most practical route towards our 2050 climate targets.

He goes on to stress his expectation that it is this decarbonisation of the grid at source – rather than the report’s other proposed option, the increased use of heat pumps – that will have the greatest impact on greening UK heating supplies.

“Yes, heat pumps have their place in certain instances, particularly in the new-build sector, but they can also be a difficult sell to the homeowner and disruptive to install within an existing property. By using the existing framework we have in a more sustainable way, we can decarbonise heat with as little upheaval as possible,” continued Mr Schofield.

“The new ministers in position at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have a fantastic opportunity to make a real name for themselves by driving these recommendations forward. All we need from them now is the political will to make a real difference.”