New gas boilers could be banned within a decade
By Paul Homewood
h/t Ian Magness
The ban on gas boilers comes one step closer:
New gas boilers should be banned within a decade, a review of net zero policy urges.
The report also calls for an “onshore wind revolution” and a five-fold increase in solar panels, amid efforts to boost the UK’s energy independence in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
The review, originally commissioned under Liz Truss, the former prime minister, and conducted by the MP Chris Skidmore, says net zero represents “a new era of opportunity” that risks being undermined by a lack of government ambition.
But it acknowledges that the net zero transition, including replacing boilers and buying electric cars, will cost households £4,000 to £6,000 each by 2040, with savings possible only after that.
The review also warns that nearly 500,000 households would not make any savings even in the long run, unless the Government provides more support.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2023/01/12/new-gas-boilers-could-banned-within-decade/
Heaven knows why Liz Truss put the climate zealot Chris Skidmore in charge of this review. It was obvious what his conclusions would be.
It is also worth noting the comments on Prof Dieter Helm:
Dieter Helm, a professor of economic policy at Oxford University and a government adviser, said the review’s estimates of costs were “highly speculative”, with the costs and savings of heat pumps “incredibly optimistic”.
“My own view is that the costs are likely to be much higher,” he said.
“Net zero is incredibly important and I think it critical to tell the public that this is likely to mean they must pay for the pollution they cause and save to fund and finance the investment.”
.
Meanwhile the deluded Skidmore still believes the rest of the world is going to follow us over the edge of the cliff:
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
It’s pure fantasy, designed to turn the UK into a poverty-stricken country with no future. Where do complete idiots like Skidmore come from?
Absolute fantasy, about as much chance of achieving Net Zero as flying to the sun. Skidmore sounds like a real drip.
Yes , just total fantasy .
The UKs total CO2 emissions are just 0.00001% of the atmosphere . And there have been hundreds of scientific papers published proving that can have no measureable effect on the climate .
But the UNIPCC admitted a long time ago that the main aim of the whole global warming scam was to destroy western economies , and the Net Zero fantasy is their way of trying to do that .https://www.technocracy.news/un-agenda-2030-a-recipe-for-global-socialism/
Renewable energy generation is incredibly expensive , as well as being totally unreliable , so would be one of the easiest way to destroy the UK economy .
He comes from a degree in modern history Oxford and then work for Gove
But his degree was a 1st, so he must be clever! 🙂
Perhaps he should look up ‘Xhosa Cattle-Killing’, a bit of history he perhaps missed (complete with a young prophetess, Nongqawuse).
So we won’t make savings without “government support”. So we pay more tax to get some back as a “saving”. And an actual MP thinks that makes us richer?
Absolute dunces aren’t they! They just don’t understand that govt doesn’t have any money, as it’s OURS, even when borrowed. I sometimes think Dianne Abbott was relatively numerically proficient.
Bring it on, the sooner these silly edicts are enforced, the worm will turn.
I really do hope you’re right there, Geoff…
But not holding my breath!
Electric power from renewables (sic) is unadulterated decadence.
UK is in the late decadence stage of the prosperity-decadence-poverty cycle. The renewables fad will end when UK can no longer afford them. When you are into poverty.
The one good thing about Net Zero is that it is rushed and all happening at once. That means its effects are going to hit us hard in one go.
That may in fact be your salvation. Abandonment of the idiocy BEFORE poverty.
Instead of turning the heat up slowly, burning everyone straight out.
I have had an estimate for a ground source heat pump – full installation including more radiators etc. 5 bed house. £50,000 at current prices
Yep, I costed for my 3 bedroom EOT Victorian cottage (small) about 4 or 5 years ago.
£30k just for the GSHP
£10k to internally insulate the house (at least)
£20k for full house ventilation (essential)
£20k for new kitchen/bathroom (need stripped out to insulate)
£10k new flooring
etc.
And the heat pump guy told me his firm wouldn’t instal one because it still wouldn’t work in an old house like ours and the company is worried about being sued by householders.
I’m going to buy a brand new gas boiler identical to my existing model (4 years old) for around £1,500 and store it in the shed for when mine packs up.
Agree. I am going to buy a new gas boiler as I am aware that the costs of all the works to install a heat pump would be similar to yours.
If he ban is confirmed, it would almost be worth buying a new boiler even if you don’t fit it, but just have it stored and ready. Presumably, the loonies in parliament haven’t thought of this, so won’t ban ‘fitting’ an already purchased boiler.
I agree entirely. I intend buying a new boiler when the manufacturers stop improving their models because Armageddon is approaching.
To be on the safe side, install your boiler before the stupid ban comes into effect, because you may (possibly) not find a Gas Safe registered fitter to do the job.
It is illegal for someone who is not Gas Safe registered to fit a gas appliance or do other gas work. —or to fit it yourself and then have the work checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
It wouldn’t surprise me if ‘government’ legislated to ban registered fitters from installing ‘banned’ boilers, unless they are absurdly ‘hydrogen ready’.
Having looked at the proposals to alter the operation of the Capacity Market it is clear that if they are followed it will be essential to invest in carbon capture gas generation, which will operate at an efficiency of about a third, completely negating the supposed benefit of heat pumps.
Could be an opportunity for Allam cycle gas plants?
Methinks time to examine Charlatan Skidmore’s various bank accounts.
Might he also be a WEF Young Leader?
We need to know how many MP’s and members of the Upper House are personally invested in renewable energy technology.
An FOIA request?
Yes indeed.
I think he’s just an idiot who thinks because he has an opinion that matches that of other people he’s extremely clever.
Skidmore tells us he has no intention of standing in the next election. Rumours abound he’s landed himself a better paid position after creating much misery and havoc.
“But it acknowledges that the net zero transition, including replacing boilers and buying electric cars, will cost households £4,000 to £6,000 each by 2040, with savings possible only after that.”
If politicians can’t see how ridiculous these figures are then there is no hope at all. To have fantasy figures like these in the report must throw the whole report in to doubt.
Agreed. Depreciation alone on a Nissan LEAF is $9,500 a year.
What I also find bizarre is the mention of alleged ‘savings.’ They claim they are doing this to save the planet. Skidmore is slipping in the idea it’s for savings.
“only possible” = wishful,
i.e. not probable = likely,
i.e. will never happen = reality.
“But it acknowledges that the net zero transition, including replacing boilers and buying electric cars, will cost households £4,000 to £6,000 each by 2040, with savings possible only after that.”
Per annum. Domestic energy costs increased by c£2,500 per household per annum, motoring costs increased by at least a similar amount
Chris Skidmark, is, a bought and paid for advocate. He’s going to knock around long enough to make life an utter misery for all the rest. Then swan into some vastly overpaid stipend for services rendered. Yes that is how this sordid bunch of charlatans operates – some name it as a government.
I really think that at some point very soon the public will wake up to the guesstimated costs that the Government/uniparty expects us to fork out for their green halo.
When this is reached the kickback should be pretty explosive I feel.
WE also need to have commentators /media covering the whole UN 2030 scam as most people look blank if you mention it.
Its what these idiots like Skidmore have been signing us up for with no real public debate .
Off topic, but I have just looked at Gridwatch and wind is providing about 14.2GW. This is only about half its advertised capacity (roughly), yet it seems pretty windy out there today.
We are also importing about 16% of our electric from interconnectors.
So why is wind only at 50% (approx.) on a windy day, while we are importing energy?
Can anyone explain?
Wind is a Goldilocks power source – the wind has to be in the right range. The turbines won’t turn if the wind is too light and they have to shut down if it’s too strong, to avoid damage.
Also the transmission infrastructure (which the wind farms don’t pay for) is often under-sized in remote areas so cannot handle high output from lots of wind farms. In that case the turbines are “constrained off” by the grid and are paid the same as if they were working. Trebles all round for whoever signed up for that!
Yes, it looks like the advertised 28GW capacity is not deliverable in practice !
It would be a good move by Gov (but wishful thinking by me) that wind generators should be derated if they NEVER achieve their nameplate peak (within a determined period). This, I hope, would reduce their constraint payments.
Basically because the wind industry lie. The quote unachievable, fantasy world numbers, and by the time the contracts are signed and prayer-wheels built, it’s too late. We need new MPs who can see through this garbage.
“Can anyone explain?”
I do not know if this is a serious question. But I think the answer is something like the following.
It is windy everywhere in Northern Europe at the moment and so there is an over-supply of wind power; as you cannot simply substitute it for base
power (such as nuclear) for a temporary advantage. O.K. But why pay France for so much wind when the marginal cost (of letting our turbines turn a little faster) to the UK is zero? Partly for goodwill, as we often need to import their nuclear power. But mainly because we cannot allow more power to our grid DIRECTLY from our wind-mills. It all gets pretty difficult at 45% wind to maintain a safe operation. France gets into trouble at 25% because it has such a large base of nuclear. All of its neighbours including the U.K. are helping France by taking power. Even so France is at 22% wind. I see nothing wrong with international cooperation – except of course that ultimately it ‘enables’ bad decisions about the European grid.
On a moment-to-moment basis, the decision to import or export power is undoubtedly a simple calculation of financial advantage for the companies
involved, but the pricing system that they work with was imposed on them by governments. Any anomalies or irrational results are down to the latter.
Incidentally, the gas store in Germany is still at 90% of capacity which is a record amount for this time of the year.
It is so staggeringly complex to explain (i.e. it is inexplicable) that you have to realise the system is (dare I say it…yes!) corrupt.
As an example, poster “It Doesn’t Add Up” identified on here recently a situation where the exact same volume of electricity was simultaneously being imported and exported from the same point (Sellindge Converter Station) over the Interconnector France Angleterre 1 and the ElecLink (through the Channel Tunnel). Payments were being made to both for “Net Zero” effect.
You have to bear in mind that National Grid ESO is actually a UK subsidiary of a large multi national which also owns stakes in interconnectors and gets paid for their use as well as any “interventions” it has to make to keep the grid balanced.
We are essentially being right royally shafted.
It is possible now to generate electricity yourself at home using diesel and a small generator at half the (unsubsidised) unit price of mains electricity. Corrupt is too nice a word for what is currently going on.
“Payments were being made to both for “Net Zero” effect.”. You mean the true understanding of Net Zero, as there was net transfer of zero.
Thanks for this, it is beginning to make more “sense” if that is the right word !
“…generate your own electricity..”
I have a delightful little book from the 1920s which instructs every farmer exactly how to produce their own electricity from a home-made mill, using the streams on their farm. If a natural fall of water is not available, you make a small dam. Of course the catch for today is that running twenty light bulbs and a couple of pumps will not do the trick – and hardly anybody lives on a farm.
Skidmore’s estimated costs are ludicrous. Heat pumps and BEV’s are far too expensive and inefficient, way out of reach of the vast majority of working people and their families. I suspect Skidmore is personally invested in renewable enable technology and is frantic to see it succeed. This parliament is full of them. We need a referendum on Net Zero.
Not just the cost, but where on Earth are they all going to come from and who on Earth is going to fit them? Assuming a pair of fitters can fit two a week, they can install around 90/year. So 10,000 teams of two can do 900,000/year. That’s 20,000 people trained and given all the parts and equipment. And even then it will take over ten years to fit 10 million homes. And that’s 20,000 people not doing what they are doing now, so a loss of £650 million in GDP each and every year.
Chris Skidmore only needs to know 2 facts:
1. CO2 does not control/affect climate, especially not man’s poultry 3%.
2. We have enough gas reserves under our feet to last for decades.
Moreover, we (as it’s our money, not govt’s) cannot continue subsidising this rotten regime by paying for the vanity projects that have no positive and beneficial impact.
Actually the paper version of the DT headlined that all gas boilers will be so banned. At least somebody on the editorial staff picked that up before the on-line version went out.
There has been a sudden surge in the US on calls for gas stoves to be banned. Many here won’t be surprised to know that the trail leads back once again to the WEFascists just like the Oxford city insanity, so it makes sense as one commenter has siad to query if Skidmore has a WEF connection or came through their Hitler Youth like Sushi did along with Adolf Trudeau and Arden in NZ.
A much more obvious argument to ban gas stoves is
Gas explosions are not uncommon almost always loss of life and total destruction of the buildings.
The open flame is a dangerous source of ignition and is capable of inflicting serious burns.
Much better than “There may be an increased risk of Asthma in children”
2000 mostly derogatory comments in the daily telegraph. Sir john armitt got the same response last year and now does not go into print about no more gas boilers.
‘Indeed the rest of the world, along with international investment communities, have woken up to the fact that the energy transition is a new economic reality.’
Nah. Not really. An assertion with no foundation.
‘2022 marked a watershed moment for global investment in net zero – not least from the US’ Inflation Reduction Act’
Hasty generalization fallacy . . . a sample of one.
The Act is a wonderful example of Congress naming bills what they aren’t. Spending $1,700,000,000 to REDUCE inflation (!).
And, BTW, Congress spends, they don’t ‘invest.’
‘with its commitment of placing clean technologies at the heart of future economic strategy.’
It is no such thing. It’s same old, same old. Congress laundering taxpayer money to pay Friends of Obama. Nor doe it represent any sort of NEW commitment. It is a continuation of decades of stupidity.
I do hope someone (Guido?) does some digging into Skidmore’s finances to see who’s backing him to come up with such patently absurd ideas. I cannot see how any sane, intelligent individual could come up with such rubbish unless he was being ‘encouraged’ to do so.
This pre-supposes that Skidmark is either sane or intelligent. Venal he may be, like so many of the net zero apologists.
I asked my own (Conservative & sold into the climate scam) a number of times to produce the actual evidence that man’s ~3% contribution to overall CO2 drives the climate to being dangerous. After all, they’ve decided it is so must have had the evidence and considered it. Guess what? Now’t, zilch, nothing, niet, nada. Total silence. They, including Skidmore, have nothing. I just wouldn’t want to be in their shoes though when (not if) the public wake up and realise they’ve been well and truly conned.
” I asked my own (Conservative & sold into the climate scam) a number of times to produce the actual evidence that man’s ~3% contribution to overall CO2 drives the climate to being dangerous. After all, they’ve decided it is so must have had the evidence and considered it. Guess what? Now’t, zilch, ”
I’ve similarly had no reply from my MP, although I’ve asked for proof rather than evidence.
Yes Harry, this is my view as well. It is one thing to excuse these politicians as not having technical savvy but, really, is it plausible they can actually be so stupid? I don’t think so. Clearly they are “motivated” – exactly how and by whom is the only issue of debate.
The root problem is . . . government has too much power.
I have a friend who is a state senator. He is a helluva good man.
By profession, he is a real estate lawyer. When issues like gun control come up, he is clueless. Well meaning, but clueless. Like most of the other representatives. He acts in a conscientious way, but he’s completely out of his field. The results are always a mess. They rarely resolve real issues.
So, we have a system in which well meaning (sometimes), incompetent people decide how other people are to live their lives. Freedom is a much better option.
Skidmore has received numerous payments during his time in the big house. I am only refering to those in the public domain.
One I particularly dislike is :-
He was paid £100,000 by Randox to be its consultant and subsequently, the company won contracts worth £480 million from the government during the coronavirus pandemic.
Another questionable appointment can be read about here :-
Liz Truss’s Net Zero ‘Review’ to be Led by Creator of Current Policy – The Daily Sceptic” https://dailysceptic.org/2022/09/28/liz-trusss-net-zero-review-to-be-led-by-creator-of-current-policy/
A Oxford History graduate strikes again!
Robert, as I have just concurred with Harry above, is it really their “stupidity” or rather their personal “motivation”.
I smell a good business opportunity. The black market in gas boilers will be very profitable. Gas boiler repair work will be lucrative when you have to repair your old banger because new replacements are scarce. And smuggling boilers into the UK may prove more profitable than smuggling people in.
I’ll start planning my boiler repair shop now to be ready for the boom.
A tip bobn, it will be most likely that the plastics and rubberised parts go first so get a good stock of those in and ensure they are well “preserved” with silicone grease.
p.s. there is an old American saying “Pass a law, start a business”
” A tip bobn, it will be most likely that the plastics and rubberised parts go first so get a good stock of those in and ensure they are well “preserved” with silicone grease. ”
For modern gas boilers, “show stoppers” are typically failed printed circuit boards and failed aluminium heat exchangers. In my experience, incompetent central heating fitters are big issue; including fault finding by trial and error and expecting the customer to pay for the fitter’s diagnostic errors.
For the earlier gas boilers, the cast iron heat exchanger is generally robust but can eventually fail, which can be a show stopper although it can possibly be repaired. Other than that, earlier gas boilers can run for decades with the occasional replacement of the thermocouple and – rarely – replacement of the gas control valve.
If new gas boilers are banned then there will be a market for replacement heat exchangers and replacement printed circuit boards, also for repairing heat exchangers and repairing printed circuit boards.
By all means keep a spare boiler, but perhaps use it for spare parts rather than as a complete replacement.
Just testing to see if my posts are registering.
Yes.
They are effective, too.
Oh dear, Bobn, you just planted a nonsense image in my head of rubber dinghies full of boilers being manned by hordes of Polish plumbers! 😄
Am I on the naughty step? My last comment came up it was awaiting “Pre Moderation” and has since disappeared. Who have I upset?
Probably most of the cabinet and everybody who buys into CO2 having a negative effect on the climate. 😉
No I discovered my problem! UK Power Networks just dropped my power off for the umpteenth time this year. The laptop was still running (on battery) but the router was off. Didn’t notice the lack of power until it started getting dark! Oh well, old age gets to us all in the end!
Hmm Ray, seems you are already experiencing the future planned for all of us by our politicians – intermittent and unreliable electricity supply.
How nice – the UK has joined the ‘third world’. Is anywhere still a ‘first world’ country?
Yep. Your solar power is going to drop off late afternoon . . . every day.
Hint: If you have put sig effort into a post, save a copy before sending. Stuff happens.
“We are now in a net zero race”.
First lemming off the cliff.
I’ve got a lovely old Potterton gas boiler that will be 63 years old this year. It runs perfectly!
The old ones are the best!
Obvious consequence is that a lot of failed boilers will now be repaired, or “repaired” by anyone willing or desperate enough to do so, including the freezing resident.
Cue the spate of gas explosions and CO poisonings. Totally unpredictable!
(I know all the Corgi stuff, but so what? Burglary and shoplifting are illegal too, but of no interest.)
So there will be the old Romanian solution: all gas boilers to be registered and inspected regularly to detect any unauthorised repair work. Rights of entry, break down doors. Much safer for the cops to terrorise freezing OAP than risk getting punched by a real crook!
Meanwhile, on this side of the pond, a proposal to ban GAS STOVES caused quite an uproar.
‘Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr., told Bloomberg in an interview this week that a ban was “on the table” for gas stoves, which research has linked to health problems including asthma.’
The people shouted him down, but with an all powerful government, it’s still “on the table.”
https://junkscience.com/2023/01/no-new-study-does-not-link-gas-stoves-with-asthma-in-children/
‘No, new study does not link gas stoves with asthma in children
The new study the Consumer Product Safety Commission wants to rely on to ban gas stoves is classic junk science.’
The Trumpka name is familiar to Americans. He is the son of the late president of the mega union AFL-CIO. Junior’s appointment to CPSC was purely political.
All powerful government ?
After files in the garage, even if they were in the boot of a car I get the impression it is those above government who are the ‘all powerful ‘ ones.
The criminal statute is to mishandle classified documents while Republican.
The Biden Crime Family, like the Clinton Crime Family, is in no legal jeopardy.
Ah crime families, yes, we are one of those.
Mountbatten-Windsor formally House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
The head of the family, well known for peddling society wrecking, climate change, tyranny.
Again, they’re above prosecution.
As well as involved in the activities of the WEF Charles has had considerable influence in successive governments for his own personal financial benefit.
Revealed: ministers sought Charles’s consent to pass conservation laws affecting his business | Environment | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/14/ministers-sought-king-charles-consent-pass-conservation-laws
WEF, the Wannsee Economic Forum, is meeting this week in Davos.
No man is safe, even those who believe they are elite. Others decide who is elite.
I frequently see references to gas boilers, including here, but not to oil boilers which are common where I live – far north Scotland. Our choice is often only
between oil and Calor gas where there is no town gas, unless you can afford air source. Does no-one care about oil?
We are in rural Wiltshire, no town gas here either so we are reliant on oil. We do have a gas hob (LPG) so at least we can boil water and cook when the electricity went off, which it used to do regularly before the cable was improved about 15 years ago. Blips in our supply are becoming more regular again.
Our Council Leader is also on the green bandwagon and has become a Co-President of UK100.
So it seems your Council Leader is too stupid to recognise the conflict of interest between these two roles?
Think we can safely assume most Council leaders, like Ministers, are stupid. They don’t know how the rest of us live.
I think he sees being a Co-President of UK100 giving him a bigger profile than joining and being a very small minion in the Conservative Environment Network. It seems to have passed him by that UK100 founders included Polly Billington and an eco nutjob, but I don’t suppose it makes much difference these days as LibLabCons are all singing from the same hymn sheet.
Domestic heating 0il price per kwh vs domestic gas price per kwh varies over time.
Local CHP running on heating oil / kerosene / diesel is the way to go! Be interesting to see if a small scale project needs planning permission.
ISO container size to sell heat/power to the neighbours, but “micro chp” is much smaller.
Solar panels should be mandatory on all new office, warehouse, factory, etc building and they should be fitted on those buildings already existing. That would mean they do not have to cover our green field, etc with the panels and hence make things greener. All new houses should have the panel fitted as they are built.
Solar thermal then there maybe some point but photovoltaic aren’t much use. Think about it, many roofs are not southward facing
Then when electricity is required, like at night or during our long, dark winters they will not able to work.
On top of that who is going to clean any muck off of the panels on a regular basis.
After being shipped from China the decommissioning costs here in the UK aren’t cheap.
Mr Perry, I can’t help noticing how comfortable you are with government telling people how they should live.
Do you envision ANY limits on government power?
Renewables are too disruptive and are directly responsible for the current monstrous domestic energy prices in the UK.
Go back 1 stage along the causal chain, and you’ll see that it’s the refusal to harvest our own shale gas supplies or any hydrocarbon fuel resource, ‘because climate change’, that means the greenies have to promote renewables. They will deny that of course, and talk in glowing terms of renewables, how they’re cheaper and greener, which is all rubbish of course.