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.
With 2023 nearing an end and Christmas on the horizon, we thought now would be the perfect time to thank our customers and installers, who have continued to spread the word about our services. We would also like to thank our employees, who have been committed to delivering outstanding customer service throughout the year.
Join us from October 4th to 8th as Alto Energy exhibits at Grand Designs Live, held at the NEC in Birmingham! We’ll be exhibiting at stand Z62, where you can discover more about our range of products and services, including air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and our range of underfloor heating.
Yesterday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a raft of policy changes regarding the UK’s approach to achieving net zero. The majority of the announcement related to pushing back the timeframes for bans on fossil fuel vehicles and boilers. However, the Prime Minister also announced a very welcome boost to the heat pump sector, with the news that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant will be increasing to £7,500 for all technologies.
We are delighted and encouraged by the government's ongoing commitment to incentivise heat pump adoption. The decision to extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) until 2028 (initially scheduled to end in 2025) represents a welcome step forward by the government. This extension will expedite the shift from conventional fossil fuel boilers to sustainable heating systems.
At Alto Energy, we are committed to providing a top-notch training experience for heating installers and professionals in the industry. We are thrilled to announce that the expansion of our warehouse means that we can upgrade our heat pump training facility. These developments signify our dedication to delivering exceptional services and training opportunities to heating installers across the country.
Heat pumps are a fast growing technology in the heating market, offering energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions for homes and businesses. However, like any innovative technology, heat pumps are not immune to misconceptions and myths that can hinder their widespread adoption. In this blog post, we discuss 9 prevalent myths surrounding heat pumps, shedding light on the facts and providing accurate information.
