EDF makes first investment in heat pump market

EDF is partnering with Clacton-based heat pump installer, CB Heating, which will offer EDF’s 3 million customers an end-to-end installation journey through CB Heating’s Heat Pump Installer Network – with 500 approved heat pump installers in the UK.

This is ahead of the government’s launch of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on 23rd May and marks EDF’s first investment in the UK heat pump market.

As well as supporting customers, the investment will also deliver training to upskill engineers through a ‘Heat Pump Installers Network Academy’. There are currently less than 4,000 qualified heat pump installers so this will provide vital training.

The new service offering coincides with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which will provide customers with upfront grants of £5,000 to reduce the cost of installing eligible heat pump systems. The scheme will be open to voucher applications on the 23rd of May.

To support the partnership, the Heat Pump Installers Network Academy will deliver training to upskill engineers across the country. Currently, there are less than 4,000 qualified heat pump installers (according to the latest MCS estimates) in the UK compared to more than 100,000 gas safe engineers. The Academy has the potential to train up to 4,000 new heat pump installers from autumn 2022.

Philippe Commaret, MD of Customers at EDF, said: “The more we can do now to invest in decarbonisation and help Britain move away from gas, the better we will be able to protect households from the volatility of global fossil fuel markets. I am delighted that we are now making this strategic investment in and partnering with CB Heating, whose experience and excellence in the heat pump market makes them a stand-out installer.

“Through investment in training and upskilling engineers in each region of the country through the unique HPIN academy, this ambitious and regionally focussed approach will see EDF working with smaller businesses and local installers to help Britain achieve net zero.”