The renewable energy and clean technology sector has responded positively to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget while calling for bolder actions to fully unlock the sector’s potential.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) praised new initiatives, including additional funding for the Warm Homes Plan, GB Energy and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

These steps, the REA says, reinforce government commitments to sustainable growth but largely reaffirm previous pledges rather than introduce transformative changes.

The Budget’s adjustments to fiscal rules, unlocking more green investment, were acknowledged by the REA as a promising shift towards supporting renewable infrastructure.

However, the REA noted missed opportunities to raise fuel duty and the Carbon Price Floor, moves that could have further encouraged the transition to low carbon energy.

Trevor Hutchings, Chief Executive of the REA, said: “The confirmation of policies like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the Warm Homes Plan, and GB Energy funding, along with continued support for electric vehicles and increased funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, all represent positive leaps forward.

“Yet, there are missed opportunities to drive more ambitious outcomes, such as increasing the Fuel Duty rate and Carbon Floor Price, which could accelerate our transition to net zero.”

Energy sector leaders echoed similar sentiments.

Mike Thornton, CEO of the Energy Saving Trust, welcomed the Warm Homes Plan as a step towards lowering bills for low-income households and increasing the energy efficiency of homes, while Dhara Vyas, CEO-designate at Energy UK, highlighted the importance of clean energy development and called for a focus on energy-efficient use as well.

Mike Thornton said: “We want to see a net zero future which benefits everyone with warmer homes, clean air and stable energy prices and look forward to more detailed plans from the UK Government over the coming months on how this can be delivered.”

Dhara Vyas said: “As well as developing our sources of clean energy, we need to focus on how we use it, so the funding for the Warm Homes Plan is a positive step towards cutting bills by making more of our properties energy efficient.”

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The government’s latest figures on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) reveal growing demand, with applications reaching 55,095 by the end of September 2024.

Most grants (97%) are for air source heat pumps, with September applications up 12% from August.

Voucher issuance also rose 8% from the previous month, with over 2,700 vouchers issued, more than double the figure from September 2023.

A total of 1,882 grants were paid out in September, bringing the scheme’s overall total to 34,438 grants.

The South East and South West regions lead in grants, and rural areas continue to show the highest uptake, primarily for replacing older gas systems.

Gav Murray, Hive Heating Director at Centrica New Business Net Zero, said: “​An uplift in applications for September, following a record year for heat pump installations so far, reaffirms that more homeowners than ever are recognising the substantial benefits of upgrading to greener heating systems.

“The government’s announcement of additional funding for the upgrade scheme will help to alleviate concerns that support for households was set to be reduced. Industry leaders must now work together to capitalise on this and ensure the workforce has the skills to convince would-be adopters and deliver on rolling out the technology to more homes across the country.”

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Senior flex analyst Steph Palmer comes clean about improving her understanding of Scope 3, and talks about her passion for Net Zero progress.

What are the benefits of looking beyond the ‘tick box’ exercise of Net Zero?

Find out more about the Equity Energies Carbon Admissions campaign here.

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The aim was to introduce more competition in the market and drive down prices for power consumers. While most would agree the former has happened, many argue that power prices remain too high.

For businesses and domestic consumers, the Act meant that geographic location no longer determined either your supplier or the party responsible for installing and managing your meter(s). This change provided power consumers with an array of choices – they could get electricity from any supplier, or even from another country, if they wanted to.

Separating tasks such as getting on supply and having a meter installed led to more suppliers and the emergence of newly formed entities too (e.g. meter operators, or MOPS). This presented opportunities for entrepreneurial individuals and businesses, but also added some complexity for users – not least, concerning who was involved and responsible for the different stages.

Find out who’s involved and their roles

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