Heat pump installations in the UK have already exceeded last year’s total, setting a new milestone for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) with three months still to go in 2024. By the end of September, 42,000 installations were completed—outpacing 2023's total by approximately 4%.
The UK government is launching the Warm Homes Grant in 2025, an exciting initiative aimed at helping homeowners make their properties more energy-efficient. This fully funded scheme is available to those who meet certain criteria and could significantly reduce your energy costs while lowering your home's carbon footprint.
This week, the UK's last coal power station closed, signalling that the country’s energy landscape is undergoing a massive transformation. For over 200 years, coal was king, powering industry and homes alike. But today, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydro are rapidly replacing fossil fuels in the national grid. With that change comes a new challenge—and opportunity—for those of us in the heating and plumbing industry.
With the UK election out the way and a new government in place, we feel it’s important to explore the potential implications for the heat pump market now that Labour has taken the helm. For plumbers, particularly those considering diversifying into heat pump installations, Labour's anticipated measures could present significant opportunities in the evolving green energy sector.
The UK remains overly dependent on natural gas, according to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), which provides independent recommendations to the government.
In its recent annual assessment, the NIC highlights the urgent need to reduce reliance on high-cost, high-carbon natural gas and accelerate the adoption of heat pump technology to meet the ambitious net zero targets by 2050. According to the Commission, decarbonising buildings is a critical aspect of this transition and represents the single biggest challenge on the path to net zero.
There has been another major update to the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme ("MCS"). MCS is the installation standard which enables customers to access the generous Government subsidies such as the renewable heat incentive. In this blog, we discuss the implications of the changes, and how working with Alto Energy ensures compliance to enable our clients to continue to benefit.
With heating oil prices increasing, and Government support at it's highest ever level, demand for Ground Source Heat Pumps is set to increase through this heating season and into 2018. Alto Energy is the UK's exclusive distributor for IVT Ground Source Heat Pumps, the most popular Ground Source Heat Pump in the UK market.
After receiving approval by the Financial Conduct Authority in September (FCA Firm Reference Number 782934), we are delighted to launch our exciting range of IVT PLUS service and warranty plans. Available exclusively through Alto Energy, we can cover on a service only basis, as well as with the option of an insurance-backed extended warranty.
Ofgem have now confirmed that the Renewable Heat Incentive ("RHI") payments for Air Source Heat Pumps will increase by 33% from 20th September 2017 (subject to final Parliamentary approval).
