A SURVEY has found the majority of rural households are unable or unwilling to pay for green heating measures outlined by the government, according to heating and cooking industry trade body OFTEC.

The government’s current approach is to encourage most homes not connected to the gas grid, including the 18,000 oil heated properties in Dorset, to switch to heat pumps, solid biomass or hybrid systems.

However, a survey by Opinium, commissioned by OFTEC, found more than half of rural households would not be prepared to pay any more than £2,500 towards a new low carbon heating system, with a third unwilling to pay anything at all. The average cost to install an air source heat pump is around £11,000, and around £16,000 for biomass.

Malcolm Farrow (pictured) of OFTEC said: “We all agree we must reduce emissions from domestic heating to support our climate change targets, but our research shows the majority of rural homes don’t have the appetite or ability to foot the bill for the government’s current proposals.

“This suggests the current plans are unlikely to be successful and a new approach is urgently needed.”

The trade body said consumers in poorly insulated homes may also have to fund the additional energy efficiency improvements needed to their homes for heat pumps to work effectively.

Figures suggest 65 per cent of oil heated properties, including the 18,000 in Dorset, fall into the lowest energy efficiency bands (E to G).

Mr Farrow said: “It’s hard to see how the seismic shift to heat pumps promoted by the government can be achieved, especially in rural areas, without very considerable financial support.

“With many consumers already struggling with household finances in the wake of the pandemic, low carbon heating solutions need to be affordable, fair and simple to implement. That’s why we are working to bring to market a new renewable liquid fuel for oil heated homes.

“Trials are already under way using a near drop-in replacement for heating oil that is certified as sustainable and which could deliver greater carbon savings than heat pumps in the short to medium term, at a fraction of the upfront cost.

“We believe it’s essential renewable liquid fuels are considered as part of the solution to decarbonise rural homes.”