Green Boiler scheme put under the spotlight

A ‘Green Boiler’ scheme, known as the Renewable heat initiative, which was due to be introduced next spring is likely to be overhauled after it’s revealed it is likely to raise gas bills, as well as be unreliable at keeping houses warm.

Jeremy Nicholson, of the Energy Intensive Users group, has described the tax as “ludicrous” and a “serious threat to the industry”, after it was also revealed it could end up putting some companies out of business.

Studies carried out by a government funded body, as well as the Energy Saving Trust (EST), have shown that the heat pumps are only “variably” effective at heating homes, and that the green pumps do not always save carbon dioxide emissions or money for that matter. Further studies into the pumps are due later this year.

Despite these setbacks, ministers including Charles Hendry and Greg Baker have reaffirmed their commitment to encouraging households to install these green heat pumps, albeit with some form of support.

A spokesman for the EST concluded by saying “We intend to make the results of the first phase of work public before autumn. Out of the 83 sites mentioned across the UK during the trial, results indicated wide-ranging performance. We are aiming to secure funding for a second phase of the trial, so we can work out what is causing this variation.