British Gas owner says Retrofit Fund would fund household switch to hybrid systems, where homes run on heat pumps plus a backup boiler
British Gas owner Centrica is calling on the Government to fund the rollout of new “hybrid” heating systems, as ministers face mounting pressure to clarify the future of the gas boiler in Britain.
Hybrid heating systems combine a small gas boiler with an air source heat pump. Transitioning to such a system would cut household carbon emissions in the short term, but would rely on green hydrogen replacing natural gas on the gas grid to become a zero emissions solution for home heating.
Centrica, which is the largest installer of gas boilers in the UK, said ministers should launch a Retrofit Fund to help at least 5,000 households change from a traditional gas boiler to a hybrid heating system by 2024.
The fund could target the draughtiest homes, gathering data to help officials decide whether to subsidise a mass rollout of hybrid systems, Centrica said.
The calls follow advice from the International Energy Agency and the CBI, which both say the installation of new gas boilers should be banned by 2025 to keep the UK on track for its net zero emissions target. The Government is reportedly considering a later phase-out date of 2035, but a key strategy document that will set out more details on ministerial plans has been delayed until next month.