Why do we need to move away from fossil-fuels towards electric heating?
The argument for transitioning the UK's heating systems away from fossil fuels and towards electricity is a compelling one from an environmental perspective. Buildings currently account for around 17% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, with the vast majority using natural gas, oil, and other carbon-intensive fuels for heating and hot water.
Most homes in the UK (83%) are heated using gas boilers. An additional half a million households in Northern Ireland rely on oil-fired systems. These traditional heating methods are major contributors to the UK's carbon footprint, so finding cleaner, more efficient alternatives is crucial if we are to meet our target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
How much renewable energy does the UK produce?
According to the National Grid ESO, in February 2024, just over half (51%) of the UK’s electricity came from zero-carbon sources. These include solar, wind and hydropower, and other sources, like nuclear and biomass.
It’s anticipated that the UK’s renewable energy capacity will increase dramatically in future. There are already plans to increase offshore wind output to 50GW by 2030 and solar capacity could grow to roughly 70GW in the same period.
How can electric heating reduce carbon emissions?
Electric power offers a more efficient and greener alternative to natural gas and oil for heating buildings.
By transitioning to electric heat pumps, which can provide heating and cooling with over 300% efficiency, buildings can dramatically reduce their direct emissions to zero. As the grid gets cleaner, the overall carbon footprint of electric heating will continue to improve.
Will gas boilers be banned in 2025?
As part of the Future Homes Standard, any new-build homes must have energy-efficient heating systems to produce 31% lower emissions compared to the current levels. The standard will come into effect in 2025.
The International Energy Agency, the UK’s official climate advisers, initially recommended that no new gas boilers should be sold after 2025 to help the UK achieve its Net Zero targets. But this has now been pushed back to 2035.
While there’s currently no guidance on removing existing gas boilers, the government’s target is for all new installations to use low-carbon heating such as air-source heat pumps by 2035.
The benefits of electric heating
Electric heating systems offer zero direct emissions at the point of use. Unlike gas or oil, they do not burn fuel to generate heat. This also means there is no risk of carbon monoxide emissions.
Electric heating is 100% efficient meaning all of the electricity that goes in is converted into heat, unlike gas.
Since 2005, virtually all gas boilers that have been fitted in the UK are condensing boilers which are required to be at least 92% efficient. While this is an improvement on old inefficient gas boilers, electric heat pumps can operate at more than 300% efficiency.
And as most electric heating systems don’t need pipes, vents or ducts, they have less impact on building design or layout. For new build properties, electric heating can go in at the second fix wiring stage.
The disadvantages of electric heating
When you make a simple comparison between gas and electric power, gas can seem like the cheaper fuel.
In the UK, under the January to March 2024 direct debit price cap, the average price of gas is 7.4p per kilowatt hour (p/kWh), and the average price of electricity is 28.6 p/kWh. Although these prices fluctuate between different suppliers, gas remains roughly a third of the price per kWh compared to electricity.
But, a simple price comparison does not take in other factors, such as the efficiency of gas appliances and lifetime costs. When you factor in things like installation costs, maintenance and safety checks and running costs, electricity can often be the cheaper option for heating homes and businesses.
Why is there such a poor perception of electric heating?
Anyone who isn’t up to date with advances in electric heating technology may think that electric heating is confined to old-fashioned, inefficient storage heaters, panel heaters and electric bar fires. Historically, electric heating was seen as a last resort for areas of the country that didn’t have an economic gas supply.
But just like mobile phones and the internet, the technology behind electric heating has advanced considerably and there are now many different types of efficient electric heating including:
Electric boilers
Electric underfloor heating
Electric radiators
Infrared panels
Electric storage heaters
Air source heat pumps
Ground source heat pumps
As the UK transitions towards net-zero emissions, the environmental advantages of electric heating are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. While the upfront costs may be higher, the long-term benefits in terms of energy efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions are making electric heating systems more attractive, especially for new-build properties and properties undergoing major renovations.
What role will heat pumps play?
The UK government has identified heat pumps as a key technology to help the UK move from gas-based to electric-based heating and reduce carbon emissions. Heat pumps extract thermal energy from the air, ground, or water and use it to provide efficient heating and cooling for buildings.
According to the Climate Change Committee, widespread adoption of heat pumps could help reduce the UK's overall greenhouse gas emissions by 15-17% - a significant contribution towards the net-zero target. Heat pumps are already widely used across parts of Europe, including Scandinavia, so they have proven effective.
Heat pumps offer several key advantages over traditional gas and oil boilers. They produce zero direct emissions at the point of use, they can operate at over 300% efficiency, and they provide both heating and cooling capabilities from a single system.
The transition to heat pumps is not without its big challenges. Homeowners and businesses may find the upfront costs of heat pump installation daunting until they understand the long-term energy and cost-saving benefits.
What is the market for heat pumps in the UK?
While heat pumps are not yet generally well known or understood in the UK, they are becoming more widely used around the world. In 2020, it was reported that 177 million heat pumps had been installed around the world with 33% of them located in China, 23% in North America, and 12% across the EU.
In Norway, heat pump installations supported by government subsidies have been so successful that in 2020, oil heating was banned. As Norway’s electricity comes almost 100% from renewable sources, this makes their heating truly green.
To encourage the UK’s transition to heat pumps, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a £7,500 discount to homeowners in England and Wales who are looking to upgrade their fossil-fuelled boilers to low-carbon heating.
What other electrical heating technologies are available?
While heat pumps are expected to be a key part of our electric heating future, there are other technologies to consider including:
Hybrid heating systems that combine a heat pump with a gas or oil boiler
District/community heating networks powered by low-carbon sources
Direct electric heating for certain building types
Potential use of low-carbon hydrogen in hybrid or direct heating systems
The UK government's Heat and Buildings Strategy recognises that a "one-size-fits-all" solution is unlikely to be effective and outlines a more diverse approach.
What's the opportunity for professional electricians and contractors?
The UK Government has set a target for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed annually by 2028. It’s estimated that an extra 50,000 qualified technicians will be needed to achieve this.
That’s a substantial opportunity for electrical contractors and heating specialists who are willing to learn how to specify, install and maintain these new heating systems.
Just as we’ve seen the demand for solar PV installation expertise continue to grow, electrical contractors and HVAC professionals who invest in developing heat pump expertise will be in a great place to future-proof their business and help us all reach our carbon reduction goals.
Find out more
If you’re a professional electrician or contractor looking to get into renewable energy installations, or want some advice on choosing the right products, getting specifications and designs for client projects, our dedicated Renewables team are here to help.
Visit cef.co.uk/renewables for more information or ask in your local branch.