Support possible for heating decarbonisation in homes

The residential sector as a whole contributes around 12% of greenhouse gas emissions

The Department for the Economy is to consult on support for the decarbonisation of heating in residential homes.

The 12-week consultation explores options for the design, rules, and guidance of any scheme of government support for low-carbon heating technologies.

It will focus primarily on heat pumps and will not cover solar panels, which may generate income for a household.

Launching the consultation, Economy Minister Conor Murphy MLA, said decarbonisation was "key" to local economic prosperity.

'Catalyst for green economy'

"By stimulating a strong local renewables market,"  he said, "we can create the conditions for businesses to develop the skills and technologies to provide low-carbon heating solutions on a global scale, which presents huge economic opportunities."

"Low-carbon technologies also enable us to become self-sufficient in affordable renewable energy,"  he added.

He said that the early adoption of low-carbon heating technologies will act as a "catalyst for our green economy."

Almost two-thirds of homes (62.5%) in Northern Ireland use oil for heating, the highest proportion of the UK nations.

Another third (33.3%) use gas, meaning 96% of homes are operating on fossil fuels, which increase greenhouse gas emissions and expose householders to international price volatility.

The residential sector as a whole contributes around 12% of our greenhouse gas emissions, largely from the combustion of fossil fuels for heating.

Energy-related emissions are expected to decrease as renewable technologies are increasingly adopted.

The consultation will focus primarily on heat pumps

Under the Climate Change Act 2022, Northern Ireland has a goal of generating 80% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

While heat pumps do not generate emissions at source, the electricity they run on is not entirely generated from renewables at present.

Part of the goal of any support scheme would be to stimulate growth in demand to help develop a skilled installer base and increased investment in heat pump technology.

Less than 1% of homes in Northern Ireland use a renewable system solely for heating.

The Housing Executive has run several schemes to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions in its homes across Northern Ireland.

That has led to lower bills for many tenants.

But no support is available for private homeowners who have spoken of their frustration over the cost of going green.

Other technologies, such as geothermal heat and biomethane, may also play a role in the long-term decarbonisation of heating.

The consultation ends on 31st December 2024.