Richard Lowes
@richardlowes.bsky.social
Energy policy obsessive on clean/decarb, mostly clean heating and gas. Surfer, dog lover, live in Cornwall. Work for Exeter Uni and the Regulatory Assistance Project. Fellow of the Energy Institute. Co-chair of Clean Heat Forum.
Very pleased to have been featured in this detailed article on the UK's heat pump market and why growth for this year is looking sluggish, primarily the cut of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme and no replacement yet. www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/aa87389...
Why hotter weather could save Britain’s failed heat pump revolution
Devices that can provide hot water, heating and cooling all in one may prove popular, say experts
telegraph.co.uk
I had a long chat with Ben Cooke at The Times last week (while I had my feet in the sea) and have to say I think this piece which combines consumer advice and market offering for passive and active cooling options is extremely neat: www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
Air con: the best units to buy and how much they cost to run
Britain faces its third heatwave in six weeks — and many homes are ill-equipped to cope. We look at the pros and cons of installing air conditioning
thetimes.com
We have just published this timely case study on the UK's Clean Heat Market Mechanism to support EU policy innovation. Timely because...... www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...
The UK clean heat market mechanism | Richard Lowes
⚡Holy moly!⚡ A leaked version of the EU’s electrification action plan (coming next week perhaps) suggests that new policy measures to boost electrification will halve oil imports and cut gas imports b...
linkedin.com
Air con is not banned. Here I try and cut through the nonsense and explore the regulatory detail around new builds and planning permission for air con retrofit - both of which could be reformed to further support air con. www.linkedin.com/pulse/air-co...
Air conditioning is not banned. But policy reform is needed.
Last week on Radio 4's PM programme, Evan Davis rightly said, "There is no ban on air conditioning," and that is totally true. There is no ban on air conditioning in the UK.
linkedin.com
Really looking forward to our joint Clean Heat Forum/Swedish Embassy 'Building Decarbonisation Forum' event next week (25th) at London Climate Action Week. Spaces still left londonclimateactionweek.org/event/buildi...
Events - London Climate Action Week
Discover climate summits, forums, workshops, and more during London Climate Action Week — a city-wide celebration of climate action and awareness.
londonclimateactionweek.org
I am so looking forward to this joint 'Building Decarbonisation Forum' event at London Climate Action week on the 25th June, a collaborative effort between the Embassy of Sweden in the United Kingdom, the Swedish Energy Agency and the Clean Heat Forum. events.business-sweden.com/events/ce15d...
Building Decarbonisation Forum | London Climate Action Week 2026
From Insights and Innovation to Impact - Shaping the Future of Heating and Cooling in a New Energy LandscapeJoin the Embassy of Sweden, the Swedish Energy Agency, Business Sweden, Sustainable Heating ...
events.business-sweden.com
A few thoughts from me on this populist sillyness about air con (not) being banned in new builds and why it's perfectly reasonable and sensible to focus on fabric measures first to reduce overheating. Air conditioning alone will never keep Britain cool www.lbc.co.uk/article/air-...
Air conditioning alone will never keep Britain cool | LBC
The Tories' promise to overturn a 'ban' on air conditioning in new homes doesn't tell the whole story, writes energy expert Dr Richard Lowes
lbc.co.uk
I spoke to Times Radio on Sunday about the heat wave and what energy technology combinations might make sense (heat pumps and solar). Mitigation and adaptation in one.
Climate Centre@climatecentreuk.bsky.social · 2mo agoOnly 5% of UK homes have air conditioning, says CCC. With record May temperatures, campaigners are calling for air con in hospitals, schools and care homes to protect the vulnerable. Air-to-air heat pumps heat and cool, one technology, two jobs. @richardlowes.bsky.social @regassistproj.bsky.social
Citizens and governments are recognising the economic and security value of heat pumps. Has taken some time but good to see the European market doubling in size in a decade. It's a miracle that they slash emissions too. www.ft.com/content/571e... via @FT
Heat pump sales jump as consumers recoil at high fossil fuel prices
High demand for units in Europe suggests green technologies benefiting from energy price surge due to Iran war
ft.com
Really nice to be briefly featured in Forbes on the topic of cooling, via @ninaseega.bsky.social, where I point out the scope for major innovation is possible - and it seems likely! www.forbes.com/sites/ninase...
Who Will Pay To Cool The Planet?
Cooling demand is accelerating worldwide, creating a major energy challenge and a critical opportunity to scale innovative, low‑carbon solutions through better finance.
forbes.com
UK government last week published its proposal to reform Ofgem. Some progress but could have gone further around governance and performance. Some thoughts here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Ofgem Review: final report | Richard Lowes
On Thursday, the UK government published its review of Ofgem. Like Adam Bell, I see some positives. In particular, I think that the production of a new Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem alongsid...
linkedin.com
Today's AccelerateEU communication from the European Commission explains how the existing EU energy policy mix will be further bolstered to drive electrification in order to reduce fossil fuel exposure. (1/3)
Europe Energy@euenergy.bsky.social · 4mo agoAccelerateEU to strengthen EU energy resilience https://www.europesays.com/2937550/ The REPowerEU plan and roadmap aim to phase out all Russian energy imports and assure EU’s energy independence from…
UK government to increase heat pump grants to £9000 for those with oil and LPG heating. Generous for sure but fully closes the risk of a cost gap and may even provide a small excess for those with small homes (typically the least well off). (1/2)
The UK government has just announced targeted financial support for households with oil heating, probably justified. Kerosene prices have been particularly impacted by the Middle East conflict.
Analysis published today by the UK Climate Change Committee shows that decarbonising the UK by 2050 would cost less than than keeping the system as is if just one 2022 style price shock happened again. This analysis took place before the current price shock by the way.
Switching a home heated by gas to a heat pump reduces the fossil gas used by that home by over 75%. No other technology gets close to such a big gas demand reduction.
The UK Oil and Gas industry knows the North Sea is in terminal decline. And they even say so. So always call BS on those who suggest otherwise. It has been in terminal decline since before any climate legislation. Details on LI. www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...
The UK Oil and Gas Industry knows the North Sea is in terminal decline. And they even say so. So always call BS on those who suggest otherwise. It has been in terminal decline since before any… | Rich...
The UK Oil and Gas Industry knows the North Sea is in terminal decline. And they even say so. So always call BS on those who suggest otherwise. It has been in terminal decline since before any climate...
linkedin.com
The US, Russia and Iran were responsible for 40% of global gas exports in 2024 and Liquefied ‘Natural’ Gas (LNG), has become one of the key price setters in this market. The biggest exporters of LNG are the US, Qatar and Australia. www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...
I'm worried about the development of 'post truth' narratives across the piece (things we used to call mis/disinformation, or lies) but I have a specific concern over discussions around the North Sea oil and gas basin. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
I'm worried about the development of 'post truth' narratives across the piece (things we used to call mis/disinformation, or lies) but I have a specific concern over discussions around the...
I'm worried about the development of 'post truth' narratives across the piece (things we used to call mis/disinformation, or lies) but I have a specific concern over discussions around the North Sea o...
linkedin.com
The hybrid heat pump and biogas combo that only the gas grids are asking for: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
A renewed push for biogas and hybrid heat pumps is underway by the UK's gas networks. This takes me back 14 years to my time at SGN when the company was pushing for the same thing. But since then…...
A renewed push for biogas and hybrid heat pumps is underway by the UK's gas networks. This takes me back 14 years to my time at SGN when the company was pushing for the same thing. But since then, 1....
linkedin.com
Despite the noise from interest groups, experts know that heat pumps can bring down bills especially when combined with solar, heat pump tarriffs and batteries. That's as well as slashing emissions and imports. www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-wh...
Factcheck: What it really costs to heat a home in the UK with a heat pump - Carbon Brief
This factcheck explains how heat pumps can cut bills, what the latest data shows about potential savings
carbonbrief.org
'I’m a green energy advocate that thinks heat pumps are shite” says Ecotricity owner Dale Vince in an article which covers all sorts of things..... The reality is, that you can't call yourself green and not support heat pumps. www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...
'I’m a green energy advocate that thinks heat pumps are shite” says Ecotricity owner Dale Vince in an article which covers all sorts of things..... The reality is, that you can't call yourse...
'I’m a green energy advocate that thinks heat pumps are shite” says Ecotricity owner Dale Vince in an article which covers all sorts of things..... The reality is, that you can't call yourself green...
linkedin.com
Developments in the Americas have put oil security in the spotlight but transport electrification is an obvious solution to manage oil security. The bigger strategic issue is gas. Together, US, Iran and Russia are responsible for 40% of global gas exports - reliable partners?
I/RAP am advertising for a buildings energy policy expert, with experience of buildings in hot climates. Please share with your networks. Closes the end of the month. www.raponline.org/who-we-are/c...
Careers
Are you ready to put your passion for a cleaner energy future to work? Join the RAP team. RAP is seeking collaborators who are enthusiastic about clean energy. We’re looking for curiosity, humor and i...
raponline.org
Really great to see this work on how good heat pump installs can be. An average seasonal performance factor (sCOP) of 3.9 beats gas on running costs, even in the UK where the price ratio between gas and electricity is so bad.
Jan Rosenow@janrosenow.bsky.social · 8mo agoNEW RESEARCH: UK heat pumps can perform far better than many think. Our analysis of HeatPumpMonitor.org data shows well-designed systems achieve ~40% higher efficiency than past trials (SCoP 3.86 vs 2.81), cutting bills (~£224/yr) and emissions. Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🚨Just released🚨 'Tipping the balance: Cheaper electricity is needed to drive clean heating' Our brand new globally focussed paper looks at the role of energy pricing in delivering clean heat uptake and provides examples of what has been done to reduce electricity prices.
The removal of the RO levy from bills to taxpayer funding is a huge win for UK households, energy policy and strategy. ECO reform was needed, but a cut seems foolhardy.
