Ahead of the publication of the government's Warm Homes Plan, Regen has analysed the options for low-carbon heat in space-constrained homes. Our report, Mind the Gap, finds that, without a strategic approach from policymakers, these homes will likely be stranded with high-cost, high-carbon heating.
Some 1.8 million homes in the UK fall into the ‘heat gap’ between low-carbon heating policy. These are homes where individual heat pumps are very difficult to deploy due to severe space constraints, and where a lack of nearby commercial anchor loads means that commercially led heat networks are unlikely to be developed. Without a strategic approach from policymakers, these homes will likely be stranded with high-cost, high-carbon heating.
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Heat policy has two key technology strands. Heat pumps have rightly been identified as the dominant technology for decarbonising domestic heat, and low-carbon heat networks are also expected to play a significant role, with the UK government aiming for them to meet 20% of heat demand by 2050. Both strands have policy mechanisms to fund and support their deployment. But we have identified that a significant minority of homes that are falling through the gap between the two.
Produced as part of Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme, in which we provide expert support on policy and regulation to the 52 participating local authorities, Mind the Gap explores how government and regulators can unlock compelling opportunities to decarbonise these homes effectively.
Among the actions we're calling for to overcome the barriers to delivering low-carbon heat in space-constrained homes are:
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