Hybrid heating could slash carbon in UK homes – but government policy is “missing the point”, say industry leaders

Hybrid heat pump systems could be one of the fastest and most practical ways to cut carbon from Britain’s homes – if ministers stop ignoring them, industry experts have warned.

At a recent Inta-hosted webinar, senior figures from across the heating sector said hybrid systems, which pair an air source heat pump with an existing boiler, are being held back by outdated policy – despite being ideally suited to the UK’s ageing housing stock.

The warning came during ‘A Missed Opportunity? Why Hybrid Heat Must Be Part of the UK’s Net Zero Plan’, chaired by Katrina Young of Energy Systems Catapult and featuring speakers from Worcester Bosch Group, the Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA) and Inta.

The panel was united in its view that hybrids offer a realistic, short-term route to decarbonisation, particularly for older homes or properties with limited space where a full heat pump conversion simply isn’t practical.

“Cut carbon now – upgrade later”

Experts called for urgent changes to government policy, including:

• Making hybrid systems eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), with a proportionate grant.
  
  

• A staged retrofit approach, allowing households to install a heat pump first, keep the boiler as backup, and reduce emissions immediately.
  
  

• Technology-neutral policy that reflects how real homes perform – not theoretical models.
  
  

Data shared by Worcester Bosch showed that a well-designed hybrid system can meet up to 80% of annual space-heating demand using the heat pump alone, with the boiler stepping in only for hot water and the coldest winter days.

Installers also told the panel that most boiler replacements are “distress purchases”, where homeowners need a fast, affordable solution. Hybrids, they said, offer a far less disruptive first step than ripping out an entire heating system.

Policy lagging behind reality

Despite a £295 million budget confirmed for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for 2025-2026 hybrids remain excluded from support – a decision the panel described as increasingly hard to justify.

Mike Foster, Chief Executive of the Energy & Utilities Alliance, said: “Ministers say they want carbon out of homes, fast. But current policy still behaves as if the only acceptable answer is a full electric heat pump swap in one go.”

The group also highlighted that hybrid systems can ease pressure on the electricity grid during cold snaps, while giving the installer workforce time to upskill at scale.

“The government needs to start listening”

Stuart Gizzi, CEO of Inta, said the industry already knows hybrids work – and is waiting for policy to catch up.

“We know hybrids are a solution. That’s why we created a standalone hybrid control unit and continue to provide pragmatic products that help installers and homeowners take realistic steps towards decarbonisation,” he said.

 “The industry recognises this is the right thing to do, but the government needs to start listening. We should be thinking 50 years ahead, not just 25.”

The panel concluded that without urgent reform, the UK risks missing a major opportunity to cut emissions quickly, affordably and at scale.