Industry Spotlight: Must-knows from a Heat Pump Expert
Key insights to effectively make the switch to renewable energy from an industry insider.
We sat down with Radek Kara, director at Go Green Solar, to ask him about his take on the retrofit industry, any trends he’s seen in the market, what homeowners should look out for on their retrofit journey, and some specific trouble shooting questions. Radek’s been in the renewable energy industry since 2013, and joined Gas Safe Bristol in 2020 and started working on the creation of Go Green Solar. He’s seen the rise in the private market for renewable technologies over the last 4 years and found an increasing number of homeowners are switching to renewable energy. We’re delighted he was able to share his expertise with us. Here’s what we asked him:
What’s the retrofit market like?
What motivated you to go into renewables?
Radek: Go Green Solar was set up to adapt to the changing market demands. As renewable energy becomes an increasingly pertinent issue which homeowners are turning towards, it was essential for Gas Safe to diversify to cater to the customers. I saw the benefit of the green energy technology I had installed at my own property and wanted to spread the word – that’s where Go Green Solar came in.
What motivates homeowners the most to make the switch?
Radek: Observing the market over 4 years, I have seen that homeowners are still motivated primarily by the financial savings they can make on their utility bills. Concerns about the climate also factor in, as well as word-of-mouth from neighbours.
How common is it for people to make the switch over to renewable energy?
Radek: Over 4 years I have observed, based on our business, that roughly 60% of the commercial business is still gas energy, about 40% is picked up by renewables. Of that 40%, the main turnover is from Solar PV and Air Source Heat Pumps.
How have new building standards affected the renewables market?
Radek: Since 2022, newly built homes have been subject to more rigorous carbon guidelines. Having to reduce the carbon output of new homes by 31% has meant that the uptake of heat pumps and other technologies has increased significantly. With stricter guidelines on the horizon (the Future Homes Standard commencing in 2025), the market for heat pumps will only increase as the population who have older homes want to follow suit.
Have you noticed any economic trends in the solar industry? And is there funding available for homeowners to switch to renewables?
Radek: Yes, we tend to see that when the media reports that electricity prices are increasing, the uptake of solar customers rises too. People look at alternative energy sources and increased energy independence when grid prices are high. The initial investment for the average customer is decreasing due to lower material costs and more incentives for UK homeowners to say ‘yes’ to solar.
We’ve also seen that payback periods (the time it takes for your investment in solar panels to ‘pay off’ in energy cost savings) are averaging 12 years for domestic customers. For industrial customers it’s about 3 years, due to better roof space and greater upfront investment, but the take-up is lower.
As peoples’ gas boilers reach the end of their life, they are increasingly turning to heat pumps or solar as an alternative. The uplift in government grant schemes from £5000 to £7500 for heat pump installation has reduced the financial difference for customers choosing between gas boilers and alternatives – making the decision easier to opt for renewables. Check out the boiler upgrade scheme for yourself.
Must-knows for Homeowners
Everyone can do their own research, but what might homeowners not know before they start their retrofit journey?
Playing it smart with electric
Radek: There’s a way to play it smart with electric use. You can take advantage of lower tariff rates at certain times, consider battery storage and monitor your usage carefully. Homeowners who say ‘yes’ to a heat pump may not foresee that you need to actively monitor and change your electricity habits to see good cost savings.
Switching to renewables isn’t just a solution, it’s a lifestyle.
Radek: A shift in habit and mindset is useful for the homeowner to really know how much energy they’re using. Be active on the electricity market to discover the lowest costs and best deals. You can fix your rates or play the variable tariff game.
You can get the most out of your renewable energy technology by controlling it.
Radek: Set timers so you’re using electricity in lower tariff times. Consider getting an immersion controller added to your system – this directs any extra energy you’re generating to your immersion heater. Take advantage of the data at your fingertips – smart energy monitors can tell you your habits and give you live costing estimates.
Why not go a step further and declare energy independence? That’s where you generate and use all your own electricity – you can effectively be cut off from the national grid. Battery storage is key to using only the energy you produce – have a look at the benefits of battery storage.
Here’s the real story –
Radek helped Katherine upgrade her home with a heat pump – read Katherine’s case study here.
You can find Radek and the team at Gas Safe Bristol and Go Green Solar.
Take me to the Case Study
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