A test that offers heating engineers a free heat bomb for their own homes is to be extended to thousands of people after professional support for technology increased.
The “Home in the Home” pilot of the NESTA Innovation Agency to support heating engineers to install their first heat bomb in their home, found that its technical knowledge increased, the understanding of living with technology and confidence in promoting customers.
Experts warn that the large -scale deployment of heat pump with clean electricity is key to replace the generalized use of gas boilers in homes to reduce carbon emissions as part of the objectives to reduce greenhouse gases to “zero net” in 2050.
That means installing 450,000 heat pumps in existing houses per year by 2030, which requires 38,000 more trained and safe installers to install heat pumps before that, said Nesta.
But while the number of heating and plumbing engineers who are training as heat pump installers is increasing, that does not translate into a great active workforce focused on technology, warned a nesta report.
He pointed out the investigation carried out by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (NUDE), which suggests that only 27% of newly trained installers have completed an installation within a year.
Many struggle to find their first heat pump client, which would allow them to achieve the necessary certification to access government installation subsidies, while many still lack confidence in the design and installation of systems, or even in the effectiveness of technology, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the demand for work in gas boilers and general plumbing continues, providing greater certainty and familiarity.
Therefore, a pilot in association with the Federation of plumbing Employers (SNipeF) of Ireland of Northern Ireland, recruited 36 heating engineers of all Scotland, and half of them offered training in the installation of the heat pump and the other half offered the training and a free heat pump to install in their home.
The 18 participants who installed a heat pump in their home reported an increase in the understanding of the design and installation of the heat pump system, with 13 saying that they had a substantial gain in knowledge.
And 11 reported a significant increase in confidence in heat pumps such as heating technology at home, gaining the confidence that they work.
Living with heat bombs in their own homes also provided engineers more trust and vision to advise customers, such as the problems they could have and how to solve them.
Nesta has launched a program funded by the Government's granting to expand the home start scheme in Great Britain when registering 5,000 heating engineers in the first 12 months, each of which will receive expert support and a free heat pump to install in your own home.
Benoit Siberdt de Nesta, who led the Start AT Home project said: “Give heating engineers a free heat pump translated into more confidence in technology and more credibility with customers.
“We believe that by climbing this at the national level we can crush a great barrier to cultivate the workforce of the heat pump installer.
“We want the plumbers and boiler installers to become defenders of heat pumps and increase our possibilities of that if they trust technology.”
Ryan Beattie, director of Thermatek Heating and part of the pilot, installing a heat bomb in his house near Edinburgh, said the project was “invaluable for both my business and me personally.”
“The route to register to install heat pumps is not always easy. The project has created a path through a confusing landscape.
“Now I am officially a registered heat pump installer and I can offer government funds in our facilities.
“We already have two clients in the quotation stage and I am excited to see what the future holds,” he said.
