A “missed opportunity” for hybrid heat pumps, says whitepaper

A whitepaper report has been released by Baxi and commissioned with Gemserv, exploring policy around hybrid heat pump systems as well as recommending an informed rollout of the technology. Unlocking the Power of Heat Pumps with Hybrid Installations.

The report was officially launched at an event in Westminster in November 2024, in which the paper delves into the suitability of heat pumps, specifically those deployed in a hybrid configuration with gas boilers in UK homes, and makes policy recommendations to speed up the process of decarbonisation.

This includes consideration for eligibility under the boiler upgrade scheme, better representation of the carbon-saving benefits of hybrid systems under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, and a rebalancing of electricity prices to reduce the cost of running.

The paper was published shortly after the government announced the Warm Homes Plan, which features a boost to funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and a reformation for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, all in preparation for increased heat pump adoption in the UK.

Jeff House, external affairs and policy director at Baxi, said:

“There has been no shortage of ambition to decarbonise heat in the UK, as demonstrated through the Government’s commitment to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and the additional support provided through the Warm Homes Plan. However, we wanted to commission this report to demonstrate that there is a real missed opportunity when it comes to including hybrid systems within these policies.

“Whilst heat pumps, whether deployed individually or at the heart of heat networks, will be one of the key mass market drivers of decarbonised heat, we have a responsibility to ensure a balanced and equitable transition in line with consumer needs. A hybrid system offers advantages as a transitional technology, not only in terms of overcoming some technical barriers to make them more cost effective in difficult to decarbonise homes, but also for energy system flexibility and resilience.”

The policy recommendations for hybrid heat pumps are:

• Increase the credit for hybrids through the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) 
• Include hybrids in upcoming changes to the Home Energy Model (HEM) 
• Make low-carbon heat more affordable by rebalancing electricity prices

View the whitepaper here