House of Commons · Westminster Hall
08 January 2025 · 7 other contributors · 4,338 words
Opened by Deirdre Costigan Lab Ealing Southall
Responding minister: Miatta Fahnbulleh
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Deirdre Costigan raised concerns about heat batteries: decarbonising homes in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The Government should make rebalancing gas and electricity tariffs a priority to encourage more consumers to upgrade to heat pumps. We need financial support for homeowners, particularly those who are older, to assist them with the transition.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
My constituents in Ealing Southall regularly speak to me about the cost of heating their homes. Gas bills have risen astronomically over the past few years, and research by the House of Commons Library confirms that the annual increase in gas bills in October 2022 was the largest ever recorded based on records going back to 1970. The UK has become almost completely dependent on Russian gas, leading to a disruption in global supplies and higher prices.
Asked about Government plans to help off-grid homes decarbonise to reduce bills for constituents dependent on heating oil.
Suggested supporting solar panels on every new house as a complement to the debate topic, reflecting concerns about past Government policies cancelling zero-carbon homes programmes.
Suggested that financial assistance should be provided by the Government to help homeowners, especially older ones, achieve energy efficiency goals. Supported the need for financial support mentioned in the debate.
Welcomed the debate on affordable home heating solutions, specifically asking how the Minister plans to accelerate the roll-out of measures that benefit vulnerable groups.
Congratulated Deirdre Costigan on securing the debate and highlighted the importance of domestic network ground source heat pumps at a broader scale, including in social housing. Mentioned Kensa, a producer of ground source heat pumps located in his constituency.
Asked if the Government should make rebalancing gas and electricity tariffs a priority to encourage more consumers to upgrade to heat pumps. Emphasized the need for engagement with rural areas where homes have depended on oil-fired heating systems.
Visited Kensa’s air source heat pumps and Tepeo’s factory, agreeing that heat batteries should benefit from VAT relief and the same levels of subsidy as heat pumps.
Government Response
Miatta FahnbullehThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Acknowledged the need for reducing reliance on gas, highlighting immediate actions like lifting the ban on onshore wind. Emphasised the importance of heat pumps and announced plans to almost double the boiler upgrade scheme budget to £295 million next year. Mentioned investments in Ideal Heating and training installers. Also discussed keeping alternative electric heating technologies under review, including heat batteries, and launched a project to monitor up to 50 heat batteries. We have announced new schemes to help low-income households, including homeowners and private renters through our warm homes local grant and social housing fund. We confirmed £1 billion from the national wealth fund, Barclays UK corporate bank, and Lloyds Banking Group to support housing associations in providing warmer, more energy-efficient homes. Next year, up to 300,000 homes will benefit from upgrades backed by £3.2 billion of investment. In December, we launched a consultation on energy performance certificate reforms to deliver fundamental improvements for both consumers and our wider ambitions.