The report, commissioned by Baxi, cited the cost of training, a lack of customer demand, and excess paperwork as the main barriers to change.
The government has set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. That’s 10 times the current market. Baxi warned that it would require an “army” of low-carbon installers to help make the change.
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It said it wanted to assess what would encourage installers to start installing more low-carbon sources of heat.
30% ‘extremely unlikely’ to install heat pumps
It found that nearly a third – equivalent to 37,000 of the more than 130,000 UK heating engineers – are ready to embrace heat pumps in the near future. But 30% said they were “extremely unlikely” to install the relatively new technology.
Baxi warned that the government and the industry will need to address the issue of training costs. And it will need to ensure there is enough demand from customers and reduce paperwork.
More support required
Some 39% of installers said they would be more likely to install heat pumps if they received help with training costs. They currently pay the full cost of training and forgo work in order to receive training, according to Baxi.
Meanwhile, 56% of installers said customer demand needed to be addressed. And 38% of installers are concerned about lack of government support for the market. The current Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which pays a maximum £5,000 grant, ends in 2025.
Baxi recommended spelling out stronger government initiatives to drive demand over the next decade. And it added that it wanted to see support for training costs on a first-come, first-served basis. It also suggested an industry-wide campaign to market the role of a low-carbon heating installer to attract new entrants.
Heat pumps ‘vital’ to decarbonise heating
Karen Boswell, managing director of Baxi UK & Ireland, said: “Installers will play an important role as we decarbonise the nation’s heating and it will be vital that the government and industry support them with the right information, incentives and training.
“They will need to be advocates for low-carbon sources of heat and recommend to the nation’s homeowners that they should make the leap to a heat pump. To achieve this, we will need to address their concerns, support them with training, and explain more clearly the financial and non-financial benefits of these appliances.”
To download the full report, click here.
