There has been plenty of talk in recent years about the potential banning of gas boilers, with 2035 previously touted as the key year for such legislation to take effect.
Under initial plans laid out by the former Conservative government, new rules would have prevented the sale of new gas boilers by 2035. This would have meant anyone replacing gas boilers after this date would need to install a more environmentally-friendly alternative such as a heat pump.
Last autumn, though, this stance appeared to be significantly softened, as Rishi Sunak instead targeted an 80% phase-out of gas boilers by 2035 rather than the entire phase-out previously discussed.
Since Labour came into power last year, there continues to be confusion surrounding the topic. However, most major UK news outlets are now reporting that Labour is expected to scrap the 2035 ban in their soon-to-be-published Future Homes Standard (FHS).
Why would gas boilers be banned?
The UK’s reliance on gas is a major contributor to the nation’s carbon footprint. Research by NHF estimates that 25 million UK homes produce 58.5 million tonnes of CO2 every year, which is equal to the emissions of 28 million cars.
If the UK is to meet its 2050 Net Zero target — in which its total greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to the emissions removed from the atmosphere — many experts believe a gas boiler ban would be essential.
What have Labour said about the gas boiler ban?
Labour’s plans for gas boilers have been fairly ambiguous. However, The Guardian and other outlets have reported that the upcoming FHS would not include a ban on these appliances.
In an interview last year, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband confirmed Labour would scrap the 2035 ban, alluding to the slow take-up of heat pumps as a contributing factor:
“We haven’t stuck with the Government’s 2035 target when you can’t replace your gas boiler. I know that we’ve got to show that heat pumps are affordable and are going to work for people.”
Sustainability will almost certainly still be a big focus in the upcoming FHS, though exactly how stringent new legislation on gas boilers will be remains to be seen.
One step we do know the current government is continuing to take in an attempt to drive heat pump use is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This offers homeowners a grant of £7,500 towards replacing a boiler with an air or ground source heat pump, or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler.
What does the future hold for the gas industry?
Long-term, a complete phase-out of traditional gas supplies is still on the cards — though it looks increasingly likely that any plans will be pushed back.
23 million homes in the UK still rely on a gas boiler to supply their heating and hot water, meaning the reality is, very little is going to change anytime soon.
Even when large-scale changes do come into effect, which is likely decades away, the expertise of the existing gas workforce will undoubtedly be vital when it comes to switching supplies and appliances to greener alternatives, suggesting a bright, busy future for the industry.