OPEN LETTER: Wales needs a bolder heat strategy

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Dear Editor,

The Welsh Government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero heat by 2050 is commendable. So is the pledge to phase out fossil fuel boilers and lobby the UK Government to rebalance gas and electricity prices. However, the accelerating climate crisis calls for a bolder and faster decarbonisation. Heat pumps are part of the solution, but they are no silver bullet.

Take terraced houses as an example. Thousands of traditional terraced houses, an iconic feature of the Welsh mining heritage, are simply unsuitable for heat pumps due to space constraints. A feasibility study last year found that only 150 homes in Bridgend could be fitted with air source heat pumps. Incentivising a broader range of alternative technologies like heat batteries can help fill this gap.

The latest smart heat batteries are a low-carbon direct replacement for gas boilers and are easy to install — while helping ease pressure on the grid and providing low cost heating. The batteries work by charging during off-peak periods, when energy is cleaner and demand lower, and releasing heat when it’s needed into radiators or under-floor heating. This smart approach to heating can help Wales reach Net Zero while preventing power outages.

Johan du Plessis, CEO at tepeo


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