News 44

News

Never fitted a heat pump?

Following the government’s announcement to significantly ramp up heat pump installations between now and 2028, LG has seen a surge in interest for their Therma V range of heat pumps, which are considered to be an easy transition for installers looking to either make the switch from traditional gas boiler fitting, or to add another string to their bow.

News

Do your customers struggle to visualise installations? Grant has the solution

Grant UK has launched a new virtual house, featuring a range of Grant renewable heating technologies, on its online Knowledge Hub. Visitors can step inside this virtual reality to see how readily installed Grant heat pumps, cylinders, radiators and underfloor heating systems can be integrated to work together in the home.

News

Government Heat Pump target – paving the way to fuel poverty?

The Government’s commendable plan to install 600,000 per year by 2028 has come under fire from both OFTEC and the Gas User Organisation, who have highlighted significant cost disparities between heat pumps and traditional technologies, along with confusion over what constitutes a ‘zero carbon ready’ home. Andrew Newman, technical director of the Gas Users Organisation, explains: “There are positive commitments in the 10-point plan towards future use of hydrogen as a green gas, and we need more clarity from the Westminster government that hydrogen-ready gas boilers are considered to be a ‘zero carbon ready’ option, as they should be, and therefore permissible in new builds after 2025. Gas central heating is incredibly popular with customers, because it is clean, convenient and relatively cheap. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation that shows that homes that lack a connection to the gas grid are more likely to be in fuel poverty.”

News

isoenergy owner, Compro Investments, acquires Marlec

Marlec Renewable Power is the oldest renewables company in the UK having been founded in 1978, and now also enjoys an international reputation and distribution network. It specialises in the design, manufacture and sale of micro wind turbines and the distribution of advanced solar PV technology. The company is known for a number of branded products. Its wind turbines are supplied to the marine sector as well as powering rail and road signage often in conjunction with its PV technology.

News

Heat Pumps – The heat is on!

Phil Hurley, managing director of NIBE UK commented; “The annual total for installations is 30,000 currently, so a massive ramp up is needed as well as up-skilling of existing plumbers and heating engineers to achieve the numbers needed for net zero targets.”

News

NIBE Energy Systems welcomes positive impacts of 10-point plan

The Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan has offered significant optimism to those working across the low carbon heating industry according to NIBE Energy Systems. The Green Homes Grant scheme, which launched in September, is a much-needed intervention for homeowners and installers and the news of its one-year extension has been very positively received.

News

STA disappointed in exclusion of solar from Government’s plan

The Government has today published a 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution. Despite being the most cost-effective electricity generating technology for the foreseeable future according to the Government’s own forecasts, solar was noticeably absent from the Prime Minister’s announcement, which is largely a repackaging of policies already announced earlier this year.

Feature

10-point plan – the takeaway points

Boris Johnson has outlined his eagerly awaited 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, but which areas affect you?

News

UK to prosper from Biden $2tn renewables revival

Just a few days after the US officially withdrew the Paris agreement, newly elected president, Joe Biden, pledged to enter them back into it immediately, whilst also committing a colossal $2tn investment to a ‘green recovery’. Even prior to his election share prices for the solar/wind energy company NextEra exceeded the market value of oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron signalling a shift in the zeitgeist.

News

Implications of lockdown restrictions for installers

Following the Government announcement of national restrictions to commence on the 5th November, MCS took to social media to highlight that tradespeople are allowed to continue working and access customers’ homes, if the customer is in agreement and the guidance on distancing is followed.

News

Future Fuels & Hydrogen Economy Virtual Conference

The Future Fuels & Hydrogen Economy Virtual Conference is taking place 9 – 10 November 2020. Explore the fundamentals around future fuels on the market from the industry’s leading experts.

News

STA comments on government response to CCC report

The Government has published its response to the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) 2020 Progress Report to Parliament, in which it revealed plans for a “comprehensive” Net Zero Strategy in the lead up to COP26. [1]

News

MCS calls for improvements to Green Homes Grant

Following the launch of the government’s Green Homes Grant on 30th September, Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, calls for improvements to be made for the long-term benefit of installers and consumers alike and highlights the challenges presented by the scheme; “Since the launch of the Green Homes Grant, we have been fielding calls on a daily basis from installers seeking clarity and expressing their concerns over what they feel are flaws in the scheme.

News

Industry reaction: offshore wind farms to power every home in UK

Boris Johnson has pledged that offshore wind farms will be powering every home in the country by 2030. We explore reactions from the industry to Boris’ plan to help the UK “build back greener”, announcing £160m to upgrade ports and factories for building turbines in Scotland, Wales, Teesside and Humber.

News

SolarEdge enhances portfolio with easy-install inverters

SolarEdge is enhancing its commercial portfolio across the UK and Ireland with the release of 30kW and 33.3kW three phase inverters for the 230V/400V grid, perfectly applicable for small-scale commercial installations.   

News

APHC partners with Propeller Workforce Management

The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) has announced a new partnership with Propeller Workforce Management software, which will see APHC members receive a host of discounts and service enhancements.