http://hpmmag.com/newsitem.asp?newsID=2708 10/11/2014 Low carbon...

http://hpmmag.com/newsitem.asp?newsID=2708

10/11/2014
Low carbon residential heating market to treble in size by 2017



Delta-ee’s, the energy research and consultants, latest research into the UK residential market for low carbon heating products* shows that this market will grow from 30,000 installations in 2014 to 90,000 installations in 2017.
Steven Ashurst, senior analyst at Delta-ee, said: "It’s still early days for the low carbon heat market in the UK, but by 2017 we expect it to capture around one-in-20 of the installation market."
A key driver for growth is the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), introduced in spring 2014.

With the Department of Energy & Climate Change indicating that the RHI will remain in place until 2021, manufacturers are becoming more confident to make investments in their supply chain and marketing to drive the market.  This is enabling installers to develop their skills and capabilities to fit heat pumps and hybrid systems, and end users to become increasingly familiar and confident with alternatives to traditional heating systems (primarily boilers).

While the RHI is a world first, the policy is far from perfect.  Problems with the policy identified in Delta-ee’s research include:

• it does not address the high upfront cost barrier of low carbon heat systems – a critical factor to customers
• it is administratively complex
• it has not been well-marketed
• it does not address the issue of local electricity grid connection – which can be a significant additional cost for heat pumps

The research also identifies other important drivers contributing to the growth of low carbon heat including:

• New products entering the market e.g. hybrid heat pumps and fuel cell micro-CHP becoming commercially available to UK customers.
• Innovation of customer propositions e.g. new financing schemes to remove the high up-front cost for customers.
• Expectations of rising energy prices to 2020 and beyond.
• Cost reductions arising from economies of scale in manufacturing and a more competitive installer market.
• The ability of local authorities to specify microgeneration in new build developments.
• Social housing providers (who remain an important part of the low carbon heat market) using the RHI as an opportunity to generate a new revenue stream and meeting affordable housing/ fuel poverty targets through low carbon heat.

Delta-ee’s forecasts are based upon new primary research with customers including owner-occupiers, social housing providers, building developers and self-builders.  In 2014 research activities included focus groups, online surveys, conjoint analysis and in-depth interviews.

*Including air source and ground source heat pumps, hybrid heat pumps, biomass, solar thermal and micro-CHP.