Renewables: What does the future look like?

Are you abreast of the changes that will come into force as we work towards Net Zero? Whether you are working in the industry as an installer, a private contractor or have a large workforce within construction/electrical fields it is important to ensure that you have an understanding of the changes set to hit the UK over the coming years.

We hope this page will provide additional details of how this will affect our industry, As energy efficiency and environmental impact rapidly becomes one of the largest considerations for industry sectors in the UK.

What is 'Net Zero' and how is this effecting the UK?

The government has coined the phrase 'Net Zero' and gives companies clear targets to reach this limit by 2050.

They state the following in the Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener document from October 2021:

‘From heating our homes to filling up our cars, burning fossil fuels releases the greenhouses gases that increase global temperatures.

People are rightly concerned, with the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report showing that if we fail to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the floods and fires we have seen around the world in recent years will get more frequent and intense. Having the effect that crops will be more likely to fail, and sea levels will rise driving mass migration as millions are forced from their homes. But the good news is that there is, still, a path to avoid catastrophic climate change.

The science could not be clearer: by the middle of this century the world has to reduce emissions to as close to zero as possible, with the small amount of remaining emissions absorbed through natural carbon sinks like forests, and new technologies like carbon capture.

If we can achieve this, global emissions of greenhouse gases will be ‘net zero’. Delivering this requires urgent global action, including ending coal fired power generation, retiring petrol and diesel engines from all cars, and halting deforestation.’

To read this full article please click here.

But what you may be wondering is what has been implemented to hit these targets? And how exactly does this affect me?

Energy Company Obligation 4 Scheme (ECO4) Grants

One of the schemes currently in place in the UK is ECO4. The government recognises that to hit their target of ‘net zero’ they will need to ensure that homes are as energy efficient as possible. ECO4 is a 4-year initiative that started in 2022 and is set to run until 2026. It looks to improve the energy efficiency of housing for those who are in lower income/vulnerable households.

Currently the UK has £4 billion of funding for Government’s Energy Company Obligation. With this in mind to qualify for ECO4 grants homes must have an EPC rating of D, E ,F or G. The ECO scheme is now on its 4th version (ECO4) and we expect further updates as the UK government continues to strive for lower emissions over the coming years. Any company or installer that wants to take advantage of ECO4 funding will be required to hold current PAS2030 certification.

What does ECO4 mean for you as a registered installer?