Plotting Roadmaps to Heat Decarbonisation

Rob Pearse, Residential Business Director at Baxi:

By October 2030, social housing providers in England and Wales must meet an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band C or higher. In Scotland, meanwhile, the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing demands that providers must meet EPC band B by December 2032.

Some progress has been made, but thousands of homes still require extensive retrofit works to achieve the higher EPC ratings. Transitioning to low carbon heating solutions is key but this to this but will require solutions that are minimally disruptive and cost-effective. Let’s consider two actionable options.

All-electric solutions

Many new build social housing developments will be designed from the bottom up to be heated by highly efficient low-carbon technologies like Baxi’s air source heat pump range. However, retrofitting heat pumps into existing homes, while absolutely possible, can be more complex.

If an all-electric solution is required, but moving to a full heat pump solution is not currently considered feasible, efficient electric boilers might provide a more practicable solution. Compact, lightweight and easy to retrofit, they offer a lower capital cost compared with heat pumps and straightforward maintenance and servicing. The latest models on the market, like Baxi’s Amptec system boiler, are carefully designed to reduce unnecessary external works, with all key heating system components built within the unit for easier siting and minimal disruption. Suitable for radiators and underfloor heating systems, they can also be used in conjunction with a Solar PV battery to help the user with running costs.

Heat networks

Heat networks, a critical pillar in the government’s net zero roadmap, are today used to provide heating and hot water in 1 out of 12 social housing homes[1]. With many existing communal heat networks operating at just 35 to 45% efficiency, there is therefore huge potential to raise performance and EPC ratings in these homes.

A significant regulatory shift is also taking place this year following the appointment of Ofgem to regulate heat networks in Great Britain. Existing heat network operators must register with Ofgem by January 2027 and comply with the new regulations for consumer protection. Mandatory technical standards, which are currently being consulted on, are expected to be introduced from next year under the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) to ensure minimum performance, efficiency and reliability. Failure to comply could result in significant penalties.

One straightforward solution to improve performance might be to upgrade inefficient existing Heat Interface Units (HIUs) to more efficient BESA 2023 models like Baxi’s AquaHeat HIU. Funding for efficiency improvements is available from the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES).

Manufacturer support

2030 is less than four years away, so the clock is ticking. For social housing providers, the time to act is now. We look forward to working with you to help you identify the options, plan your pathway and deliver the most suitable and efficient solution for your building types and requirements.

[1] National Housing Federation - Housing associations and heat network regulation