Recommendations for Enhancing DESNZ's Heat Pump Deployment and Clarification Sought on Hydrogen's Role in Home Heating According to NAO Report

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is deliberating on the potential role of hydrogen in decarbonising home heating, with a formal decision expected in 2026. However, recent reports from the National Audit Office (NAO) suggest that the government's plans may need a rethink.

According to the NAO, the number of heat pump installations by December 2023 was less than half of the planned projections. The report also found that DESNZ lacks an overarching long-term plan to address low levels of awareness among households about the steps required to decarbonise home heating.

The NAO recommends that the government develops an overarching long-term consumer engagement plan for decarbonising home heating. They also suggest that DESNZ accelerates its work to rebalance the cost of energy to improve heat pump uptake.

The delays or cancellations of trials of hydrogen schemes intended to provide evidence to support the government's decisions have not helped matters. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, states that the government needs to engage every household to achieve its objective of decarbonising home heating as part of the transition to net zero.

Gareth Davies also advises DESNZ to draw on its experience to ensure its mix of incentives, engagement, and regulations addresses the barriers to progress in its current program of work. The independent public spending watchdog, NAO, says the government's assumptions about levels of consumer demand and manufacturer supply are optimistic.

By 2035, the government wants to see up to 1.6 million heat pumps being installed annually. However, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a government initiative, has underperformed, installing just 18,900 heat pumps between May 2022 and December 2023.

To improve transparency and accountability, the government should report its progress on heat pump rollout annually to Parliament. According to the latest data, home heating represents 18% of UK greenhouse gas emissions.

The organization Deutsche Unternehmensinitiative Energieeffizienz e.V. (DENEFF) has made a recommendation to improve the spread of heat pumps at DESNZ and calls for earlier clarity on the role of hydrogen in residential heating supply. As the debate continues, it is clear that the UK government has a significant challenge ahead in meeting its decarbonisation targets for home heating.

Recommendations for Enhancing DESNZ's Heat Pump Deployment and Clarification Sought on Hydrogen's Role in Home Heating According to NAO Report