Leading heating industry stakeholders join forces to support the inclusion of gas absorption heat pumps (GAHPs) in the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) under the upcoming formal review of the scheme.The Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC); Sustainable Energy Association (SEA); UKLPG, trade association for the LP Gas industry in the UK; Baxi; British Gas; Calor; Robur; Viessmann; and Worcester Bosch have offered support. GAHPs are an available renewable heating solution that can readily deliver decarbonisation benefits for a wide range of properties on and off the gas grid without loss of comfort or infrastructure upgrades.
By combining two established technologies, a high efficiency modern condensing gas boiler and an air source heat pump, GAHPs provide an efficient and low carbon way to utilise gas and LP gas in homes across the UK. Cost-effective use of gas has the potential to reduce energy bills immediately and the technology itself provides an easy transition from conventional boilers for consumers. A number of companies develop a range of highly efficient GAHP products with diverse sizes and technical characteristics suitable for commercial, industrial and community heating.
The government’s Heat Strategy has identified widespread GAHP deployment as necessary to achieve binding carbon reduction targets. However, the opportunity to bring this key solution to market is time limited. It is critical that the formal review of the non-domestic RHI to be published in 2014 establishes support for GAHPs on par with other renewable heating solutions. Postponing a decision for the next formal review of the scheme in 2017 would be ruinous for the development of this key solution to UK energy policy objectives.
Roger Webb, director of the HHIC, said:
“GAHP’s are an alternative means of delivering renewable heat in the UK by making use of the existing gas infrastructure. Inclusion in the RHI is important to demonstrate their value and to drive up sales of these products.”
Dave Sowden, chief executive of the SEA, added:
“A crucial part of the non-domestic RHI review process is to ensure the right mix of technologies is available to support the intentions of the scheme and help to achieve the UK’s renewables targets. We would support the inclusion of additional technologies where they can be shown to meet the defined qualifying criteria and provide a cost-effective contribution. GAHPs are one such example of a technology with this potential and should be included in this review.”
Rob Shuttleworth, chief executive of UKLPG, said:
“UKLPG and the LPG industry fully supports the inclusion of GAHP in the non-domestic RHI as a means of contributing to the reduction of off-grid carbon emissions and helping businesses located off the gas grid reduce their energy bills and increase their competitiveness.”