Government has NO plans to delay proposals to replace gas boilers with heat pumps despite Michael Gove hints

The Government does not plan to delay its proposals to phase out gas boilers in homes and replace them with heat pumps.

A UK Government spokesman said the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero still aims to phase out the installation of new and replacement gas boilers by 2035 at the latest.

It comes as Michael Gove hinted that plans to replace gas boilers with heat pumps in homes should be reviewed in an interview on Times Radio.

The Government plans to phase out gas boilers by 2035.

Hanging on: The Government has no plans to delay proposals to phase out gas boilers in homes and replace them with heat pumps by 2035

On the question of targets to install heat pumps in new homes, Gove said: ‘That is one area that I do think that we need to review … it’s important that new homes meet net zero standards but one of the challenges that we have is with our existing housing stock.’

But when asked about plans to review the proposal to replace gas boilers with heat pumps, a UK Government spokesman told This is Money: ‘We are aiming to phase out the installation of new and replacement natural gas boilers by 2035, at the latest, in line with the natural replacement cycle and once costs of low carbon alternatives have come down.

‘This includes phasing out installation of new hydrogen-ready boilers in areas not converting to hydrogen. This will ensure that all heating systems used in 2050 are compatible with net zero.

‘We will further consider the Net Zero Review’s recommendation in relation to this ambition.’

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the Government’s flagship scheme to achieve this. In March, the scheme was extended by three years to 2028 with a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by then.

However, new research shows that the UK is languishing at the bottom of a league table of 21 European countries for installing heat pumps.

Under the scheme, the Government is currently offering households a grant of £5,000 to install an air source heat pump, or £6,000 for a ground source heat pump.

The average cost of installing an air source heat pump under the scheme is £13,000, according to the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), meaning a homeowner has to typically find £8,000 to have one installed.

Mike Foster, chief executive of campaign group the EAU says: ‘There has been considerable speculation following the Uxbridge by-election surrounding net zero policies. 

‘The most important date, 2050 for net zero should remain firmly in place.

‘It appears that other targets are being reviewed, which we think is entirely sensible. 

‘From 2026, those living in rural areas and not connected to the gas grid, face a ban on replacing oil and LPG boilers. Instead the Government has said broken boilers must be replaced by heat pumps.

‘People cannot afford this massive imposition. At £13,000 a time compared to £2,500 to replace a boiler, this is exactly what Rishi Sunak meant by not imposing costs onto consumers. It’s time to junk the 2026 target.

‘Gas boilers face being ripped out from 2035. Michael Gove has hinted this might be reviewed. 

‘Consumers should be given a choice. If they want a heat pump, they can have one; if they want the convenience of a gas combi-boiler, provided it is capable of running on zero carbon gas, then that should be available for them too.’

Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says: ‘The Government extended the boiler upgrade scheme by three years (to 2028) in March as part of Powering Up Britain set of announcements, so I don’t think they would review it again so soon.

‘They are likely to be reviewing the hydrogen heating trial anyway at the moment, as Whitby has been discounted as a location due to resident’s pushback, and residents are also raising concerns in the potential other location of Redcar. A decision was meant to be made in spring.

‘A consultation on the Future Homes Standard – which would see tighter energy efficiency regulations and low carbon heating in new builds from 2025 – was also meant to be published in spring.’