Vaillant cautiously welcomes decarbonisation investment

Responding to the Government’s recent spending round announcement, Vaillant has cautiously welcomed plans to funnel £30m into infrastructure decarbonisation schemes over the next 12 months. Mark Wilkins, Vaillant Group’s head of training and external affairs, comments:

“We welcome the Government’s recognition for investment in infrastructure to support decarbonisation. More funding is crucial, not only to put in place the necessary set-up for the production and distribution of sustainable energy sources, but also to improve the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock. Reducing the energy demand of our buildings should be the first step as part of any strategy to decarbonise the provision of heat for our built environment. Any emissions savings made via the use of low-carbon sources won’t then be wasted.

“However, considering the scale of the challenge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we would query whether £30m is anywhere near enough. Bearing in mind the diversity in our country’s buildings and existing infrastructure, we need different solutions for different markets. Apart from the cost of the technology, we also need to train up more engineers to design, install and maintain the infrastructure. Investing in a co-ordinated approach to identify what is needed, synchronise industry efforts and undertake the training is crucial if we are to deliver the high-quality and reliable infrastructure. Without a guarantee from the Government to invest in these key areas, it remains to be seen whether this proposed investment will truly make a difference or simply be an empty promise.”