According to a new energy white paper by the Government, the country will have to “transition completely away from natural gas boilers” in a bid to hit net-zero emissions by 2050.
The report stated: “To achieve net-zero emissions, we will have to transition completely away from traditional natural gas boilers for heating homes on the gas grid.
“There are currently around 1.7 million fossil fuel boilers installations every year but by the mid-2030s we expect all newly installed heating systems to be low-carbon or to be appliances that we are confident can be converted to a clean fuel supply.
“Electric heat pumps and hydrogen, green gas and shared heat networks all have their part to play.
“So, while we are clear on the eventual outcome, we will be flexible in how we achieve it, always looking for the most cost-effective, consumer-friendly approach.”
It also stated more than four million off-grid households in rural areas, which rely on stored oil or gas heating and hot water, will have to move to greener alternatives.
The Government will bring forward a “backstop date” for phasing out fossil-fuel heating systems, the white paper stated.
A consultation will be launched by the Government on whether it is appropriate to end gas grid connections entirely for new homes.
According to The Times, the gas boilers for new homes could be banned as soon as 2023.
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They also urged the sale of oil boilers to be phased out by 2028 and new gas boilers should be hydrogen-ready by 2025.
Morag Watson, director of policy at Scottish Renewables, welcomed the paper’s plans to shift to green energy.
She said: “Scotland is already at the forefront of the energy transition with the equivalent of 90 percent of its electricity consumption generated by renewable energy resources.
“The next priority is to decarbonise heat and transport and the white paper provides the supporting context needed to ensure Scotland’s abundant onshore and offshore wind resource is harnessed to address this.”
The Government remains committed to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050.
This year, renewable energy made up almost half of Britain’s electricity generation in the first three months.
Most of this energy was generated by solar panels and wind farms.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in talks with the French company EDF Energy for a £20billion nuclear power plant in Suffolk.
The Sizewell C site could generate up to 3.2 gigawatts of electricity which is enough to provide seven percent of the UK’s energy needs.
