Policy consultancy Stonehaven has today published new research, commissioned by SGN, exploring public attitudes towards low-carbon heating and the potential role of hybrid heat pumps in supporting the energy transition.
The ‘Turning down the heat’ report examines the challenges facing heat decarbonisation across the UK and highlights the importance of ensuring the transition is affordable, practical and attractive for consumers.
While there is broad support for reducing emissions from home heating, the research suggests concerns around upfront costs, running costs and considerable disruption remain significant barriers to the widespread adoption of low-carbon technologies.
The report identifies hybrid heat pumps – which combine a heat pump with a gas boiler – as a potential solution that could help overcome some of these challenges. By allowing households to benefit from the efficiency of a heat pump while retaining the flexibility of a boiler, hybrid systems could provide a more accessible route to reducing emissions.
...installing 1.9 million hybrids by 2030 would save 2 million tonnes of CO2 per annum – equivalent to decarbonising almost a million homes on the gas grid.
Turning down the heat
Stonehaven report
The research also highlights the potential role of lower-carbon gases, such as biomethane, in supporting the transition. Together, hybrid heat pumps and biomethane could offer consumers greater choice while making use of existing infrastructure and helping to maintain energy resilience.
Among its findings, the report suggests that hybrid heat pumps could:
- Reduce gas consumption by 75% while supporting carbon reduction goals
- Offer lower upfront costs than standalone heat pump installations
- Reduce pressure on the electricity network during periods of peak demand
- Provide consumers with a more flexible pathway towards lower-carbon heating
The report argues that a successful heat transition should focus on delivering emissions reductions while giving households practical and affordable options that suit their individual circumstances.