UK Clean Growth Strategy may lead to NatRef funding

Unveiled on 12 October, the UK climate plan sets additional £2.5 billion (€2.7 billion) in green investment to decarbonise all sectors of the economy starting from 2020.

The Clean Growth Strategy recalls the United Kingdom’s international leadership in phasing down the use and production of HFCs in its Clean Growth Strategy.

The country began the process of ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on 5 September. Kigali phases down emissions of HFCs from HVAC&R equipment such as fridges, air conditioners and other appliances.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said adopting these additional targets marked the UK as a “world leader” in tackling climate change.

“Not only will this deal reduce global carbon emissions by the equivalent of around 70 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050 – the same as 600 coal fired power stations would produce during that time – it will also help to protect our health, our agriculture and the wider environment,” Gove said.

The Clean Growth Strategy also says the government will spend £4.5 billion (€5 billion) between 2016 and 2021 to support the greater uptake of low-carbon heating technology such as heat pumps through the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

As an energy-efficient and sustainable technology, natural refrigerant-based equipment manufacturers are well placed to benefit from public subsidies.

The plan is open for comments until December 2017 at the following e-mail address:

CleanGrowthStrategy@beis.gov.uk