Page 9 - Gi September2020

industry & government news

BAN NEW GAS BOILERS IN UK FROM 2025 OR

RISK MISSING NET ZERO TARGET, SAYS CBI

HEATING IS THE LARGEST help people and businesses make the protecting our planet. [It] would provide
SINGLE SOURCE OF CARBON
EMISSIONS IN THE UK switch, it said, which when combined a huge jobs boost at a time when [they]
with energy efficiency measures, would are needed more than ever.”
lower household energy bills. The commission members included
Heating is the largest single source business leaders from National Grid, UK
of carbon emissions in the UK, Energy Research Centre and Cadent, the
making up more than one-third of UK’s largest gas distribution network.
the total. Decarbonising heat is the The commission report says: “This
biggest energy challenge in tackling transition will undoubtedly be disruptive
the climate emergency, particularly to consumers and businesses.”
because it requires action in millions The new types of heating systems will
of individual homes. Currently, just be more expensive until providers scale-
one million of the UK’s 27 million up their production. Lord Bilimoria said:
THE INSTALLATION OF new gas homes have low carbon heat. “We do recognise the upfront costs and
boilers must be banned from 2025 or The government’s current policy we don’t think these should be borne by
the UK’s net zero climate target will be is to ban gas boilers only from 2025 the consumer alone.”
“doomed”, according to a high-level in newly built homes. But the group The commission said the government
commission convened by the CBI. said taking action to transform the had a “pivotal role” to play, which required
According to The Guardian, the ban UK’s heating would create 150,000 “political courage and vision” and the
would apply to conventional gas boilers, jobs and help the nation recover from creation of a national delivery body for
but hybrid or hydrogen-ready boilers the economic damage caused by the heat, modelled on the organisation that
would be allowed under the business coronavirus pandemic. delivered the 2012 Olympics.
organisation’s recommendations, which Karan Bilimoria, the CBI President “[Heat] is going to move to centre
were developed in collaboration with and Chair of the heat commission, said stage in the years to come,” said
energy industry leaders. “A green recovery and progress towards Chris Stark, the Chief Executive of the
The commission also said that by the UK’s net zero emission target are Committee on Climate Change, the
2035, no boilers burning any fossil gas doomed to fail if we don’t address the government’s official advisers. “So we
should be installed into homes, with urgent need to decarbonise the heat in really welcome this CBI report, which
technologies including heat pumps and our homes and buildings. gives us a sense of what a net zero
district heating being used instead. “Aside from the moral imperative, compatible package of measures might
Grants or loans should be given to there’s also a strong economic case for look like.”

BORIS JOHNSON UNVEILS £350M TO FUEL DECARBONISATION OF INDUSTRY

BORIS JOHNSON HAS unveiled £350 go to heavy industry to support automotive industry.
million in funding to help industry to the transition from natural gas to Business Secretary Alok Sharma
reduce carbon emissions in a bid to hydrogen, as well as scaling up the said: “This funding will reduce
speed up progress towards the UK’s development of carbon capture and emissions, create green collar jobs
2050 net zero goal. storage (CCUS) technologies. and fuel a strong, clean economic
The funding will go to a range of The two technologies have both recovery – all essential to achieving
businesses and projects working long been earmarked as critical to net zero emissions by 2050.”
across industries such as heavy the transition to a green economy, The new funding comes in addition to
industry, construction, space and with 40 businesses in June writing to the £100 billion announced in March’s
transport, according to City AM. Chancellor Rishi Sunak in support of a budget for the rollout of a super-fast
Johnson said that the coronavirus country-wide hydrogen strategy. charging network for electric vehicles.
pandemic meant that it was “more In addition, £149 million will The government has also
important than ever that we keep up go towards developing the use of committed to consulting on ending
the pace of change to fuel a green, innovative materials, such as so-called the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid
sustainable recovery. ‘green steel’ across industry, while £26 cars by 2035, and launched a
“The UK now has a huge million will be put towards supporting transport decarbonisation plan.
opportunity to cement its place at the low carbon building techniques. Finally, Johnson will also launch
vanguard of green innovation, setting The remainder of the money will the first meeting of the new Jet Zero
an example worldwide while growing be put towards a national space Council, which has been tasked with
the economy and creating new jobs.” innovation programme and research developing the world’s first zero
Of the funding, £139 million will and development projects in the emission long haul airliner.

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13/08/2020 09:22
News.indd 4
News.indd 4 13/08/2020 09:22