Purpose

To seek approval of the Housing Revenue
Account (HRA) Heat Decarbonisation Strategy and set out the
HRA’s approach to transitioning away from gas as the primary
fuel for domestic heating and hot water, in line with the One City
goal of eliminating carbon emissions.

Content

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimous vote in
favour):
 
To endorse the Heat
Decarbonisation Strategy (Annex A) and in particular approve the
following ten recommendations, which fall into three broad
categories:
 
Category one -
strategic enabling measures
1 – Committing to an electrification
pathway for all BCC homes. By providing clarity
that all our homes will one day be heated through electric systems
such as heat pumps and low carbon heat networks, BCC can provide a
long-term pipeline of work, helping to grow the renewable heating
supply chain across Bristol.
2 – Embedding space heating demand
within our asset management strategy. By
targeting our investment in retrofit as effectively as possible,
BCC can pave the way for increased deployment of low carbon heating
as we move into the 2030s and beyond.
3 – Establishing clear criteria which
set out when low carbon heating systems can be installed.
By adopting a clear decision-making methodology, BCC
can balance competing risks and priorities, ensuring we decarbonise
the right properties at the right time with the most suitable low
carbon technologies.
4 – Clarifying the ongoing role for
gas boilers. By clarifying the ongoing role for
gas heating in the medium term, we can ensure a smooth transition
to low carbon heating, with gas heating reducing incrementally over
time and no new gas installations from 2035 onwards.
 
Category two -
near-term “no regrets” actions
5 – Assessing the potential to phase
out new gas cookers and hobs from April 2026. By
seeking to phase out gas cookers and hobs from 2026 onwards, BCC
can generate near term carbon savings as well as ensuring our homes
are ‘clean heat ready’ when heating systems are
subsequently replaced.
6 – Phasing out secondary gas fires
with immediate effect. Around 2600 BCC homes
have a gas fire in the front room. By phasing these out at the
point they are due for replacement, BCC can further reduce gas use
across our housing estate with immediate effect.
7 – Adopting a phased approach to
BCC’s long-term programme of decarbonisation.
By introducing a new programme of heat pump
installations immediately, we can target year on year growth and
set a trajectory for full decarbonisation by 2050.
 
Category three -
consumer protections and fairness
8 – Driving high quality
installations of low carbon heating through a programme of
performance monitoring. BCC is clear that
household energy bills of our residents should not increase as a
result of thenet zero transition. By committing to monitor
the performance of all new low carbon heating installationsfrom
2025-2030, BCC can support our residents more effectively while
also driving higher quality within thelocal supply
chain.
9 – Providing targeted advice and
guidance alongside all installations of low carbon heating.
By acknowledging the need to support our residents
with information, advice and guidance, BCC can ensure the net zero
transition takes place in line with the principles of a just
transition.
10 – Commissioning a review of
district heating provision across communally-heated BCC homes.
By endorsing the need for a full review of communal
heating provision, BCC can ensure compliance with new regulations
in the area.