Mike Foster
@mikefosterEUA
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CEO of a trade body representing the energy and utilities sector. Chair of Affordable Warmth Solutions. No virtue signalling here but occasional blunt truths.
Kenilworth, Warwickshire, UK
Joined November 2011
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Just for interest I’ve run cost comparison gas boiler v heat pump using average Agile tariff. Even accounting for higher efficiency of HP, heating bill more than doubles. From £442 a year to £989. An expensive way to save 1.6tonnes of carbon (£345 per tonne).
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So average investment £13,000 to save £187 a year. Payback period, 70 years. Sure, that’s a compelling investment (not).
#SnakeOil
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I’m pretty sure I remember seeing a claim that heat pumps will be price equivalent of boilers by April 2022. Did someone miss the memo, or mislead the public?
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Good job we have all this renewable power! “Let’s now put all our heat demand onto the electricity network”, said nobody sensible.
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So advice was to say no to UK produced & tax gas, but yes to imported Qatari gas, with a higher carbon footprint. Is the CCC fit for purpose?
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Biomethane powered tractor is true by-product of circular economy. Cheaper to run than diesel and cleaner too.
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Yes, he definitely said this. “Not ready for mass market; too expensive & consumer offer not where it should be.” The same CCC boss that wants us all to have them, but uses a gas boiler himself (he also said that today). Time to wake up & smell the coffee.
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The lifestyle of most people is so far removed from this example, it actually harms the call for greater levels of energy efficiency in the home.
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@lewis_goodall
Keep pressing Lewis. Important that justice is done. And when you have finished, take a look at another external cladding injustice. Fishwick estate, in Preston. 300 homes with poorly fitted insulation- misery for homeowners & a remedial bill of £millions.
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I’m old enough to remember when Ministers made claims that yesterday the
@NAOorguk
clearly debunked. The House of Commons was misled, inadvertently in this case. Who should blamed?
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Not pretty. Just ran the monthly running cost comparison between gas boiler & heat pump, using price cap data. There is a carbon saving 👍but look at the financial impact on consumers. An extra £270 a year to run a heat pump. This is not a product for low income families.
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“Let’s electrify everything”, looks the stupid argument it always was.
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So we don’t have enough electricity; not enough installers; they cost more to buy; cost more to run; need to upgrade the wires to the home; need new radiators (
@BBCJustinR
forgot about hot water cylinders); but they are the answer? We need H2 & HPs
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A gas boiler costs 7p per KWh. I’ll just leave it there for others to consider.
National average pricing for
@OctopusEnergy
Agile Tariff: Thu 03-03-2022
Min: 35.0p (00:00)
Max: 35.0p (00:00)
Avg: 35.0p
Avg Excl Peak: 35.0p
Cheapest 4hrs: 35.0p
Peak 4pm-7pm: 35.0p
Fixed Tariff: 37.8p
Get graphs & pricing for all 14 UK regions at
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Just the start. When do we factor in distribution costs to power networks for the “electrify everything” scenario? Time for an honest conversation with consumers.
#KeepTheSnakeOilOnTheShelf
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How many Scandinavian homes were connected to a gas network? How many have wood burners to supplement heat pumps? No single solution for the UK, why pretend there is?
✍️ "Without heat pumps, we will struggle to protect Britons from future gas crises and decarbonise household heating systems. It’s time we got behind the heating revolution that has already swept across Scandinavia."
- CEN's
@meganspatula
in
@CapX
⚡️🏡
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Nothing to see here, just me signing off £3 million for part payment of 400 ASHPs and solar PV. Heat pumps, heat networks & hydrogen heating for the future. Right appliance, right place.
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Minister admits it will be a “tall order” to electrify heat in UK and suggests hydrogen has a key role to play in giving evidence to
@HydrogenAPPG
Exactly what we have been saying over the past few years.
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Plea to political parties -
@UKLabour
@Conservatives
@LibDems
check your manifesto to ensure you understand the difference between “energy”, “electricity”, “power”, “fuel” “renewable”, “low carbon”. For those working in the sector (and wider society) it is important.
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So the Clean Heat Market Mechanism has done what some of us believed was always the intention- making gas boilers more expensive. The lie about cheaper heat pumps is exposed, the only way for parity is to put the price artificially up for a boiler it seems.
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I intend to publish a monthly update for consumers on the running costs of heating technologies. Based on
@ofgem
usage;
@UswitchUK
price comparison. Today gas boiler £217 cheaper per year v heat pump. Data below, comments welcome.
#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay
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So let me get this straight, the Energy Secretary has a gas boiler; the chief climate change advisor has a gas boiler. The Energy Secretary thinks this. Yet, they are still telling you and I to rip out our gas boiler for a heat pump.
#OneRuleForThemAnotherForTheRestOfUs
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It’s happening.
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“There is no green jobs revolution, it’s a myth.” Utterly damning conclusion to article. We can’t export jobs to go net zero, it would be a gross betrayal.
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When energy suppliers suggest we stop using gas and switch to electric, ever thought of why they say this?
#BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor
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Boilers on test under
#HyDeploy
@HeatingYourHome
@baxiboilers
@IdealBoilers
@vaillantuk
supplied two each. One control, one running the hydrogen blended gas.
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4
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Really productive afternoon with
@ChiefExecCCC
and
@worcester_bosch
discussing decarbonisation of heat; looking at the insides of a hydrogen compatible gas boiler and exploring how best to steer the pathway to
#NetZero
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What is it about charging customers 15p a kWh for electricity compared to 3p for gas that first attracted you, as an energy supplier, to an all-electric future?
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Best advert yet, apparently heat pumps “save space”. Yes, let me repeat that, “save space”. Now compared to an ocean-going liner they might do, but compared to a gas combi boiler?
@ASA_UK
when do you intervene, before or after a consumer has been duped?
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Fascinating visit to
@CNG_FUELS
to see filling station in action. "I've seen the
#greengas
future & it works".
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So let’s get this right. Gas prices increase; 500k more in fuel poverty; someone in Whitehall thinks it green to reduce electricity cost & add it to gas. Distributional impact most severe on low income/vulnerable/pensioners. Is this what they call “levelling up”?
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Hi
@theheatinghub
I can’t find any source for the claim you use that 99% of heating engineers don’t know how to set the correct flow temperature of a gas boiler. Can you point me in the right direction please? Thanks.
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Oh no, the all-electric lot are going to go ballistic. They don’t want cheap hydrogen, it goes against their world view. All that cheap hydrogen will achieve is net zero!
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@aDissentient
I understand Lord Deben wanted a heat pump for his pad, accepted it wouldn’t deliver what he wanted, so now has a hybrid heat pump/oil boiler. Hardly in keeping with his rhetoric.
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Review committee of
#WarmHomesFund
finished 10 mins ago. Catching breath. But approving over £30million to be used tackling fuel poverty across GB is not a bad way to spend an afternoon. Great work from the team providing the evaluations.
#EndFuelPoverty
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Typical EPC for a 3 bed semi in Worcester. Payback periods make further improvements economically irrational for the private consumer. Solid wall 47 years; floor insulation 167 years. THREAD
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A big thanks to all those who merrily retweeted a claim that the IPCC report saw no future for hydrogen heating. This is the UK Government response - taking back control over heating policy.
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Great visit to
@vaillantuk
today in sunny Derbyshire. Having a good look around at the future of heating.
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Nothing to see here, except me signing off a contract for £5million for ASHPs and solar. Right technology, right place and give consumers choice - now what’s wrong with that?
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Just heard
@BBCRadio4
news at 5pm story of a 93 year old woman grateful she had a gas hob, because she has been without power for days. Gas connections save lives. We just need to make that gas net zero.
#GetOnWithIt
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So no VAT to pay; a £7500 taxpayer grant and now a subsidy on their electricity bills. At what point does someone tell the Emperor that he has no clothes on ?
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If only we had been warned that in the middle of winter the UK can have cold, dull days with no wind. Has this ever happened before? If we were daft enough to put all the current heat demand onto electricity, what would happen?
#GoodJobWeHaveAGasNetwork
#NowSwitchIt2Hydrogen
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Before we embark on the seriously expensive decarbonisation of heat, approx cost £500 billion, we need to determine who pays and how. Fairness needs to be at the heart of any plan. We should not pay for Net Zero on the backs of those who can least afford it.
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Fascinating insight from
@hmtreasury
Pensioners the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Must confess, gives plenty of food for thought.
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Minister has told his officials UK needs both “blue” & “green” hydrogen. Officials have been tasked to find ways of ramping up production. Recognition that demand is there for transport, domestic heat & industrial processes. A great introduction by
@KwasiKwarteng
to
@HydrogenAPPG
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It’s cold and still outside. Early train to London. Good job we have gas for power as well as heat. Imagine doing without both.
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An important piece in
@thetimes
quoting
@ChiefExecCCC
&
@WorcesterBosch
looking at how the gas networks can help meet
#NetZeroUK
Minimising cost & disruption to consumers is essential in this.
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Here we are installers, a classic example of what the so-called elite think of you. 130,000 of you,
@GasSafeRegister
installers are “boiler slingers”. Pity this elitist snob has forgotten just who would fit his beloved heat pumps into homes, yes, the same heating engineers.
@ProfPalindrome
@mikefosterEUA
@ClemCowton
@Tom10120
@DavidCebon
@betateach
@janrosenow
@ThomasNowakEU
@MichaelGrubb9
@MadedduSilvia
@AukeHoekstra
@AbigailDombey
If you're going to have to get off gas sooner or later, is money best ploughed into the gas system or used to underwrite the conversion? You might find that it's not so expensive to convert your house to ASHP - make sure you get a good engineer, not one of Mike's boiler-slingers.
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They were warned months ago that this was a likely outcome to such a flawed scheme. Even govt officials admit they don’t even know how many heat pumps are sold each year. Time for a pause to get policy right & stop hitting consumers.
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.
@ChiefExecCCC
Struggling with a crossword clue - "Person who advocates a course of action while not undertaking it themselves" - 9 letters, beginning with 'H'. Can you help me? (further hint - has a gas boiler but doesn't want others to)
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Am hearing from well informed sources that
@hmtreasury
is not keen on green hydrogen, preferring fossil fuel derived H2 gas instead. Why would you hold that view when the UK has the potential to produce hydrogen from harnessing wind?
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So
@Ofgem
Energy Price Cap announced today. Average heat pump running costs 8% higher than a gas boiler, that’s without considering Cap X and servicing. Still not an economically rational thing to do for retrofit/replacement.
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Not a great week for the fundamentalists.
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Exactly why
@NGVNetwork
are lobbying the Chancellor to keep the incentive for businesses to switch from diesel to gas for HGVs. Biomethane giving an 80% reduction in carbon v diesel.
#GreenGBWeek
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As I’ve said previously, a sensible move. Mandate hydrogen-ready boilers from 2025, at current replace rates, all gas connected homes will be ready for mass hydrogen switchover from 2040. With no additional upfront costs to consumer. That’s the prize. 🥇
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Sub-editors strike again. Clear mistake in headline. Should read “Campaigners fear their vested interest may lose out to cheaper alternative”
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If U see this van in your neighbourhood, stop by for a chat. Fuel poverty experts out & about in your community offering real help.
#EndFuelPoverty
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We said in back in 2013, and we’ll say it again, Govt needs to review the situation. More pressing now having let Centrica close down Rough (and use the stored gas for a nice cash flow boost).
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I know
@DanJarvisMP
will be pleased to hear that 14 properties in Holden Court are getting free, new gas central heating systems to replace inefficient & expensive electric heaters. All thanks to
@aws_cadent
&
@RiversideUK
Dan is recognised as a great advocate to
#EndFuelPoverty
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Great piece on
@bbcmtd
just on
#HyDeploy
at Keele; H2 ready boilers
@worcester_bosch
Combined with
@CadentGasLtd
creating the network changes &
@baxiboilers
also having H2 ready boilers, the
#WestMidlands
is at the heart of decarbonising homes in the UK.
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Great to hear
@KwasiKwarteng
say how enthusiastic he is about a hydrogen gas grid to decarbonise heat, speaking at the
@appgENERGY
this morning. On the same day as
@HydrogenAPPG
launch their report.
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On route to see our good friends
@baxiboilers
at Bamber Bridge and look at their hydrogen boiler facility.
#TheFutureIsCleanGas
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Oh look, increased supply of a commodity, cet par, leads to lower prices. Who would have thought?
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Another step on the road to an all-electric heat future & at only £80,000 a property! Is it possible to find a cheaper way to decarbonise heat i wonder, perhaps a biofuel for these off grid homes? Economics trumps product efficiency IMHO.
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To be fair,
@cmackinlay
as a point. You can pay the levy, another £100 or switch to a £10,000 heat pump & pay an extra £250 a year in running costs. Either way, the voter loses. Vast majority will simply pay the £100 heat tax & resent MPs for it.
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Another great bit of news for consumers
@beisgovuk
Just heard from a leading UK boiler manufacturer that assuming current volumes, hydrogen-ready boilers will cost the same as natural gas boilers. It really is a no regrets option.
#WhyDitherAndDelay
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HyDeploy in the House of Commons today. Nice praise for
@energyutilities
@HHIC
from Steve Fraser, CEO of
@CadentGasLtd
for our work on hydrogen.
#NetZero
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Great news from
#Budget2018
for
@NGVNetwork
3.43 Alternative fuels – Following review, the government will maintain the difference
between alternative and main road fuel duty rates until 2032 to support the de-carbonisation of
the UK transport sector, subject to review in 2024
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Good job the UK boiler manufacturers have developed hydrogen-ready boilers that can run on natural gas, biomethane, both with a 20% blend of hydrogen and with a simple conversion (a couple of parts) run on 100% hydrogen.
#TheFutureMadeInTheUK
The "Save our Boilers" proposal from Ecotricity is that we heat 50% of UK homes (14 million) with biogas made from grass, and that doing so would enable us to decarbonise homes at 10% of the cost of heat pumps.
If I were still in government, I would be asking:
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Fining companies that fail to meet heat pumps targets is farcical
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Glad we have molecules providing heat (and power) this morning. We can’t control the weather, so let’s keep a system of heating homes (but with net zero gases) until we can.
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Yes it’s a boiler tax. Punish British manufacturers & reward imports. Then punish the hard-pressed consumer. Even the Ministerial architect of the scheme is too frit to publicly debate the policy with me.
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Blending of 20% hydrogen into the gas grid is highly significant. Once at this point there will be no going back. Consumer being put at the heart of Net Zero is key. This part of the plan ensures they are.
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So a typical winter evening, we need three times the current wind generation just to keep the current lights on. Add EV charging & then heat, “Houston, we have a problem”. Unlike Apollo 13, sticking plasters are not the solution. We need the flexibility of a zero carbon gas.
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Working from home today. Have had to ask the neighbours to keep the noise down.
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I am tired of warning “single solution” fundamentalists that this is a risk. If voters reject £12.50 a day ULEZ, what chance £13,000 for a heat pump? It is the elephant in the room that some hope would disappear, it won’t.
#KeepTheBoilerChangeTheGas
This is so smart and so depressing from
@stephenkb
.
I don't work in climate comms, but if I did I would be throwing everything at maintaining the UK's precious political consensus among voters of all parties for climate action
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Solar thermal 200 years; replacing existing double glazing 41 years. It is a real problem that policymakers need to address, without penalising consumers. Yet to hear a compelling solution.
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So the new
@ofgem
price cap makes the viability of a heat pump worse. Was 7% more expensive a year than a gas boiler to run, now 11%. Not a great consumer proposition. (This excludes the £13,000 average installation cost).
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Exactly. The gas grid is the ideal mechanism to distribute hydrogen for heat, hot water & cooking. Can be stored easily; meets peak demand & minimises consumer disruption (and cost).
Welcome confirmation from
@beisgovuk
of the very big role that hydrogen will have in getting to
#netzero
in the UK. But do we really need another 5y of trials to work out the role for hydrogen in heating?
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This scheme appeared on TV earlier this year as the great off grid saviour. When will the London-based lobbyists stop trying to force change down peoples’ throats? (Before leaving work to their gas centrally heated homes).
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Note to headline writers/social media the story is about electricity, not energy. The two are not the same. It’s a big enough challenge to supply 25% of electricity, let alone all energy needs.
Johnson announces aim for UK to get 25% of energy from nuclear power
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A sobering thought. If we can’t roll out smart meters properly; on time; on budget, then what hope do we have for heat decarbonisation? Is the main lesson is let the networks take the lead, not retailers?
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Interesting read (as always from
@emilygosden
) on a development that impacts upon everyday lives & where industry has worked to bring forward options for politicians to decide upon.
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Now this is what proper leadership on the issue looks like. Let’s have more of it please.
We use natural gas every day to cook, wash and stay warm.
We need to find a clean alternative to reach
#NetZero
emissions by 2050.
In
#Gateshead
we’re building prototype homes with appliances powered by hydrogen, which produces no carbon when burnt.
👇
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Pre-reading this evening for
@aws_cadent
Board meeting tomorrow. Delivery of
@WarmHomesFund
progressing well, including over 3000 ASHPs. It is all about delivery, in the right place.
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Photograph is of an imported heat pump, with an article promoting “energy patriotism”. You simply could not make this up.
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Hydrogen will be the globally traded energy vector of the future. Availability won’t be an issue. Those that recommend policy solutions based on limited supply may need to refresh their outdated thinking.
MOROCCO: green hydrogen will be transported to Germany via the port of Tangiers | Afrik 21
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Please stop this nonsense. The misuse of stats drives me mad. Anecdote is not a sample, let alone measurement of the population. People who blatantly misuse stats usually have ulterior motives for doing so.
Exactly Nath. Our survey says 99%,
@Si_Poskett
says it's over 90% based on years of speaking with installers as a technical rep,
@HeatCalculation
says the same, consumers say 100% of installers they've had out know less than they do. Credible sources. Address the issue.
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Just arrived at Keele for the HyDeploy Advisory Board meeting. Nicely on time (well early actually). Looking forward to some useful discussions and information sharing with
@ProgressiveEne1
@CadentGasLtd
@NGNgas
@ofgem
@H_S_E
@beisgovuk
@ITMPowerPlc
@SGNgas
and of course our host
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Last week they accused the boiler industry of campaigning against heat pumps (which it doesn’t) This week they give out advice suggesting heat pumps cost more to run than a boiler & getting a new boiler helps cut bills - in the Climate Crisis section.
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Disappointing to read
@RHarrabin
report, with its rush to scare consumers. Heating industry is well advanced on hydrogen-ready gas boilers. Gradual phasing in is most economic way of progressing, especially for fuel poor & vulnerable.
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@edfenergy
Suggest you look at the
@EnergySvgTrust
website. It confirms A rated gas boiler will have cheaper bills than ASHP. I’m not anti heat pumps, just pro the consumer.
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Top Conservative politician
@nigelmp
inspecting the hydrogen-ready boiler at
@baxiboilers
this morning. Green Collar jobs safeguarded in his constituency if the government give Clean Gas the go ahead, paving the way to Net Zero.
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So no connection to a biomethane or future hydrogen gas grid? Instead get heat from electric produced via gas-fired power stations (with loss of energy in transporting it to the home), not really smart is it?
"From 2025 at the latest, no new homes should be connected to the gas grid," say the UK's climate advisers,
@theCCCuk
. They say instead new homes should have heat pumps, super efficiency and timber frames.
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Great to speak to so many Parliamentarians at the
@HydrogenAPPG
meeting. Given geopolitics, hydrogen is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet to decarbonise heating, affordably. UK well placed to be energy independent & with hydrogen, less reliant on unfriendly nations.
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