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Heat Batteries: Decarbonising Homes
08 January 2025
Lead MP
Deirdre Costigan
Ealing Southall
Lab
Responding Minister
Miatta Fahnbulleh
Tags
TaxationHousing
Word Count: 4338
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Deirdre Costigan raised concerns about heat batteries: decarbonising homes in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
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.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
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.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Asked about Government plans to help off-grid homes decarbonise to reduce bills for constituents dependent on heating oil.
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
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.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
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.
Noah Law
Lab
St Austell and Newquay
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.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
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.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
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.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
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 Fahnbulleh
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Government Response
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.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.