Calls have been made for more financial support for families in order to speed up the installations of heat pumps to help the Government meet its net zero target.
The National Infrastructure Commission, a group of independent advisers, says the pumps are not being installed quick enough to reach the 2050 net zero target. It also wants to see a significant increase in the amount of money put aside to help families instal the pumps, reports the BBC.
It comes as the UK aims to be in a position where it no longer contributes to the amount of greenhouses gases in the atmopshere by 2050. It is one of 197 nations that plans to agreed to try and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5C by 2100.
To do this, scientists say net zero should be achieves by 2050.
The NIC, which advises government on infrastructure challenges facing the UK, said around eight million buildings will need to ditch gas boilers by 2035 to hit the net zero target. Currently however, these boilers heat around nine in 10 properties in England.
The group says heat pumps are “the solution” and are currently being “deployed rapild in other countries”. The pumps absord heat from the air, ground or water and use it to produce heat.
But the commission said the speed of installation of pumps across the UK is “not cutting the mustard”. That is even after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak relaxed plans to completely ditch gas boilers by 2035 – instead hoping for an 80% phasing out.
Critics suggest this is a watering down of the net zero plan. Although Sunak says the UK will still hit its goals by 2050.
