There the 27 million homes across Britain and over 22 million use mains gas to heat their homes with a further 3 million using either oil or calor gas. That’s 86% of all homes emitting over 250 million tonnes of harmful greenhouse gasses every year.
It’s little wonder then that from 2025 no newly built homes or buildings can have a mains gas connection and from 2035 you will not be able to replace an existing gas or oil boiler.
So, finally the Government are finally addressing the issue, but what is their strategy for the future and how do they intend to make the transition to a cleaner, greener energy?
Historically electricity was regarded as the dirty fuel, however for the first-time renewable energy overtook fossil fuels to be the biggest source of electricity in the UK in 2020, with wind, solar, bioenergy and hydro (water) power generated a record 42% of UK power last year, while fossil fuels, mostly gas, produced 41%.
Just 10 years ago the UK generated more than 75% of its electricity from fossil fuels, mostly gas and coal, and just 7% from renewable energy sources, however it is projected that renewable energy will produce over 75% of our electricity within the next 10 years.
That’s why electricity is now regarded as the clean, green fuel of the future with £13bn being spent on upgrading the Electricity Network by 2023 the support increased demand and small-scale energy generation, such as Solar PV.
So, if gas and other fossil fuels are being phased out, what does the next generation of heating and home/office control systems look like?