Written question WQ84661

The Welsh Government recognises the importance of encouraging a just transition to lower carbon space and water heating in Welsh homes. This is important as we work to meet our net zero obligations and lift lower income households out of fuel poverty. Heat pumps are available through our Warm Homes Programme when recommended following a whole house assessment. I published a consultation on the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme on 22 December, which discusses how best we can encourage householders to transition to low carbon heating, including heat pumps.

I am also working with the UK Government to further expand the installation of heat pumps in Welsh households, through schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation Scheme which will continue to deliver affordable warmth to lower income households, and the Boiler Upgrade Grant which will make available grants of between £5,000 and £6,000 to support other households transition to low carbon water and space heating.

Through the Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP), Welsh Government is grant funding innovative approaches to decarbonise Welsh homes. The programme includes a whole home assessment that identifies the most appropriate and effective measures for individual properties, with a focus on ‘fabric first’: making changes that will improve the fabric of the property to increase its energy efficiency.

The Registered Social Landlords and Local Authorities are responsible as part of the principles of ORP to select the most appropriate heat and power system.

ORP is working with both electric grid distribution network operators in Wales Scottish Power in the North and Western Power in the south on Heat Pump trials.