EDF has acquired one of the UK’s leading air source pump installers CB Heating as it ramps up efforts to transition customers to zero emissions heating solutions including heat pumps.
The acquisition follows the strategic investment by EDF into CB Heating and also follows the recent government extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, as well as a 50% boost for the air source heat pump grant rising from £5,000 to £7,500.
The Future Home Standard bans the installation of gas boilers in new homes by 2025, in addition to a total ban on fossil fuel boilers by 2035.
Heat pumps are considered a lower carbon option, but opponents have called out the technology for being complex to install and infeasible for people to take up.
“The investment we’re making in the heat pump market is representative of all the work we’re doing to help Britain achieve net zero,” said EDF managing director of customers Philippe Commaret.
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He continued: “Having acquired stand-out installer CB Heating, we look forward to delivering an even better service and added value for our customers, making it easier for them to switch from polluting fossil fuels to low carbon electricity, and in doing so, save cash and carbon”.
CB Heating managing director Clayton Browne added: “Now CB Heating has the investment and resource to continue its journey to develop and grow our HPIN network, which is the largest network of qualified trained heat pump installers in the UK”.
“We plan to train over 1000 heat pump installers in 2024, meaning a quarter of all estimated heat pump installers in the UK will be a HPIN member”.
She continued: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far and will continue to work with thousands of other local independent installers to help them move away from fossil fuels and switch to heat pumps”.
“It’s a very exciting time for CB Heating as we take this next step in our 23 year history”.
