There’s no question that we must act swiftly to tackle climate change. Our industry plays an important role in helping homeowners to heat and power their homes sustainably. But for those living in areas off the mains gas grid, moving away from fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives involve a particular set of challenges, making this endeavour a much bigger hurdle compared to homes connected to mains gas.

Given the challenges associated with decarbonising heat in these homes, how can installers best prepare their businesses and get ready for the changing energy landscape in rural Britain?

The various technological options – hydrogen, heat networks, biomass and heat pumps – all have their caveats. Hydrogen, for example, may be a possible solution for those on the gas network, but it can’t be stored easily or transported off-grid. Heat networks work better in more densely populated areas, so these are unlikely to play a major role in the countryside. Biomass boilers are expensive and have air quality issues. What’s more wood chip pellets often need to be manually handled and frequently delivered. Heat pumps generally require good levels of home insulation to heat effectively, but many rural homes are hard to insulate. If none of these heat sources are suitable on their own, would hybrid systems supported by biofuels such as bioLPG provide the most effective solution?

We chat with the panel to discuss the issues at stake, gain an insight into what is happening now to help rural homeowners to make the transition. We’ll also discuss how installers who work in off-grid locations are preparing themselves for the future, and debate what the Government and industry should do to make it more viable to adopt and install systems with lower carbon emissions in these areas.

For example, should drop-in biofuels have a greater presence in government policies so that installers can work with existing boiler technology and speed up the pace of decarbonising heating in the countryside? We will also look at whether decarbonisation in rural areas should be delayed to build up more skilled professionals in the supply chain.

Sophia Haywood, Director of Public Affairs, Liquid Gas UK

Karl Bateman, National Specifier Manager, Calor

Steve Keeton, Director of External Affairs and Future Portfolio at Vaillant Group UK

Webinar: Decarbonising heat in rural areas off the gas grid