Respond to the Wales Heat Strategy

The Wales Heat Strategy proposes electrification and heat pumps as the ‘core solution’ to transitioning Welsh homes onto low carbon heating. This will have a significant impact on the 130,000 properties in Wales which rely on oil to heat their homes.

For some properties, switching to a heat pump is an ideal solution and we fully support the use of the technology where it makes sense.

However, many properties are simply not suited to heat pumps and will require disruptive and costly changes for them to work effectively. This is particularly true in Wales where the housing stock is typically much older.

These changes can include new radiators, better insulation, new piping and the reintroduction of the hot water tank. The total cost can be over £20k which simply isn’t affordable or practical.

The Wales Heat Strategy consultation recognises this challenge, stating:

“Our homes are among the oldest and least energy efficient in Europe. Wales also faces the challenge of a significant number of properties off the gas grid. Consequently, the scale of change required is far greater than elsewhere in the UK and in many places in Europe.”

That’s why we’re campaigning for homes in Wales and across the UK to instead have the choice of switching to a renewable liquid fuel called Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).

The fuel works in an existing oil heating system following a minor modification to the boiler. This is expected to cost around £500 and can be completed in a few hours. As a result, emissions are reduced by nearly 90%.

We believe this is a practical and realistic alternative solution for harder to treat properties. Fundamentally, it’s about giving households a choice so they can decide whether a heat pump or renewable liquid fuel is the best solution for them.

The UK government put forward similar proposals for oil heated homes to switch to heat pumps. However, pressure from rural MPs in Westminster led to a change in policy with the government now promising to publish a consultation on renewable liquid fuels within the next year.

The UK’s legislation will impact Wales, but the devolved Welsh government’s Heat Strategy could lead to a different approach and a greater focus on heat pumps.

Make your voice heard and respond to the consultation.