Government Need to Abandon One Size Fits All Approach to Renewables and Regulate Rogue Contractors

If the scientists predicting climate change and rising sea levels are to be believed then Wales needs to do its bit to be ahead when it comes to tackling climate change and environmental issues. The Welsh Government aims to reduce greenhouse gasses and plans to take measures to adapt to the effects of climate change.

It may be fair to say that there is a certain amount of animosity between motorists and cyclists in Wales. One of the issues is the one size does fits all approach. In cities and urban areas providing facilities for safer use and more use of cycling makes absolute sense but in rural areas on rural roads, there needs to be a different approach. The same can be said when it comes to the massive drive to make homes more energy efficient and the move away from coal, oil and gas to heat homes.

The Welsh Government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero heat by 2050 is a commendable step forward. However, a single solution like heat pumps won’t suffice. Terraced houses, for instance, pose a challenge due to space constraints, making alternative technologies crucial. In many parts of the world rivers and water courses are used to harness green energy. Here in most of the UK even if you have a river flowing through your land you are not allowed to use that for energy.

The grant system for renewables allows contractors to place solar panels on residential roofs but not in their gardens even if that garden is substantial. There are so many things that really need to be reconsidered and predominantly the one-size-fits-all all approach is at the core. Similarly, the use of contractors for grant work should be reviewed and regulated to prevent fraud and increase customer trust and satisfaction. There are hundreds of nightmare stories about how homes have been ruined by grant work contractors.

Hale Heating and Renewables Calls for Independent Regulation of Grant Work Contractors

Ashley Hale of Hale Heating and Renewables agreed that there were far too many unregulated companies carrying out grant work in Wales and said that he had witnessed first hand how bad some of that work can be.

Ashley said: “I can tell you so many nightmare stories where we have had to go into a property and completely undo everything a contractor has done. It is shocking that they are walking away from this with no penalties and simply changing the company name and getting endorsed by some celebrity or another. s

“The government need to act swiftly to clean up this industry and start to look at the individual needs of each customer, their bills, their property and their location. It is madness to say that a property in rural Wales for example with an acre or two of grounds cannot have land-based solar panels.

“We are supposed to be tackling climate change. We are supposed to move towards renewable energy. We can’t approach this half-heartedly in the belief that putting a few panels on a roof and installing a heat pump will solve all of the issues. It has to be a long-term approach with people being helped to install the most efficient energy-producing and storing package for their needs.

Speaking about the various options available for renewable energy in Welsh homes Ashley said: “Heat batteries are an innovative and effective option, offering a low-carbon replacement for gas boilers. They can be easily installed, easing grid pressure and providing affordable heating by charging during off-peak hours and releasing heat when needed. While heat batteries are a valuable option, we must recognise that one-size-fits-all solutions won’t work. Renewable energy will be the future, and we’ll need to utilise a range of options to achieve our Net Zero targets. This will include solar power, wind turbines, ground and air source heat pumps, heat batteries, and lithium-ion batteries.

“To succeed, we’ll need experts to design systems tailored to individual consumers’ needs, homes, and budget constraints. We must work together as a country to find the right solutions and reach our Net Zero targets effectively. Due diligence is also essential for the government and householders. This too should be localised and independently assessed for quality and customer satisfaction.”

We contacted the Welsh Government and pointed out some of the concerns of people who have suffered as a result of contractors installing renewables at their homes in Wales.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “It is disappointing to hear of these experiences.

“ECO4 is a UK-wide scheme that requires large and medium-sized energy companies to fund energy improvements on homes with a lower energy efficiency rating that are occupied by low-income or vulnerable households.

“The Welsh Government does not play a role in the administration of ECO4 in Wales.”