Home / Environment / Biomethane Can't Replace Heat Pumps for Home Heating, Study Finds
Biomethane Can't Replace Heat Pumps for Home Heating, Study Finds
30 Sep
Summary
- Biomethane can only meet 18% of UK's gas demand by 2050
- Fossil fuel lobbyists' claims about biomethane as an alternative are false
- Experts say biomethane has limited uses, not suitable for widespread home heating
According to a study commissioned by the MCS Foundation charity and conducted by the analyst company Regen, biomethane, a gas derived from farm waste, will not be able to replace the widespread adoption of heat pumps for home heating in the UK.
The research, seen by the Guardian, shows that while biomethane may have a role to play in some industries and on farms, it will not be a viable alternative for the vast majority of homes. The study found that biomethane could account for only up to 18% of the UK's current gas demand by 2050, as the available sources of manure, farm waste, and sewage cannot be scaled up to the extent needed without distorting the UK's economy or using unsustainable sources.
Garry Felgate, the chief executive of the MCS Foundation, stated that biomethane has an important role in decarbonization, but not in homes. He emphasized that to meet the UK's climate targets and ensure every household has access to secure, affordable energy, there is simply no viable way to continue heating homes using the gas grid, whether it's fossil gas, hydrogen, or biomethane.
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The research highlights the limitations of biomethane and suggests that ministers should focus on promoting the widespread adoption of heat pumps, rather than relying on biomethane as a low-carbon alternative. The study's findings challenge the claims made by fossil fuel lobbyists and some trade unions, who have been promoting biomethane and hydrogen as viable replacements for heat pumps.
