Air source heat pumps lead way in heating homes

But while most enquiries ahead of the launch of the RHPP were about solar hot water systems, 36 per cent of vouchers – the highest proportion so far – have been given out for air source heat pumps, according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), which is managing the £15 million grant scheme on behalf of the Government. 

The next most sought after technology with 29 per cent of vouchers was solar thermal, the EST said, followed by ground source heat pumps at 21 per cent and biomass boilers at 14 per cent. 

The majority of vouchers – 75 per cent – have so far been issued in England despite the RHPP also being open to householders in Scotland and Wales.

"There’s always a few surprises along the way in schemes like this, and in this case, it’s the technology split," the EST said in a blog. "The trailblazing technology, at the moment, in terms of vouchers being given out is air source heat pumps."

Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps are around the same size as air conditioners and are usually mounted on the outside of a building. They work like fridges in reverse, extracting warmth from the air, which is used to heat the home. 

The technology is seen as green because it extracts energy from a renewable source – in this case the air. However, studies have called into question their eco-friendliness because they emit hydro fluorocarbon, a powerful greenhouse gas, and if not properly installed work inefficiently. 

Nevertheless, they can offer a cost-effective solution in retrofit projects and under the RHPP attract £850 worth of grant per installation. 

Under the RHPP, UK householders looking to invest in renewable heat installations, including solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass boilers, can do so, as long as it is the main residence and has been adequately insulated. They can apply for solar thermal vouchers worth £300. But for homes that are not mains gas heated, vouchers worth £850 are also available for air source heat pumps, while grants worth £950 are available for those seeking to invest in biomass boiler systems and £1250 for ground source heat pumps.

The RHPP is expected to deliver 25,000 installations between now and March 2012, according to DECC.

Social housing
It was announced today by the Government that social housing providers will also be able to bid for a share of £3 million of the RHPP, up to around £175,000 per housing provider. More than 17 social housing projects are expected to benefit from the dedicated pot of cash, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, which said it was taking the action in order to keep tenants of local authority properties and social housing associations out of fuel poverty and provide them with a stake in energy generation at a local level. 

"This new programme is directly targeted at many of the people who will be struggling to pay their heating bills next winter," Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said. "It will drive the take up of new heating technologies in social housing and help slash their dependence on big energy companies and expensive tariffs."

The RHPP is a forerunner to the Government’s domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which launches next year and is aimed at creating a renewable heat market by rewarding households and businesses that install eco heaters through a system of tariffs.

Heating is responsible for 46 per cent of UK carbon emissions and the RHI aims to cut that by 10 per cent by 2020, supporting 150,000 jobs in the heating industry at the same time.