Report claims ‘energy patriots’ should switch to greener alternatives

HOUSEHOLDS with insulation, heat pumps and electric cars are more “energy patriotic”, as they rely far less on imported fuels, a thinktank has claimed.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) found homes using heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles make more use of British energy and use less than half the imported fuel of a household reliant on gas and petrol.

People who want to be “energy patriotic” should be buying British by switching from gas boilers and petrol cars to cleaner alternatives that run on electricity increasingly powered by domestic wind and solar energy, ECIU suggested.

And the Government should help those who cannot afford to invest in new technology by agreeing more contracts for new UK wind farms, ensuring homes can buy British for more of the power they use for appliances and lighting, the think-tank argued.

ECIU analysis found a typical household with a gas boiler, petrol car and average electricity demand relies on imports of energy, mostly gas and oil, for nearly 70 per cent of its total needs.

But a house with good levels of insulation, using a heat pump and an electric car will use less than half that level of energy imports (45 per cent) from gas used in electricity generation.

Homes with solar panels as well would use around a third (36 per cent) of the fuel imports of a typical home, at just 6MWh a year, the analysis said.

ECIU looked at the use of oil and gas imports alone, rather than “net imports” which balances the amount of energy the UK brings in against the amount produced and exported, to give what it said was a more detailed view of the country’s reliance on imported fuels.

Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the ECIU, said: “As North Sea oil and gas output continues its inevitable decline, the dependence on foreign imports for households using boilers and internal combustion cars will only become more stark.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “Nearly half of all homes in England now have an EPC rating of C or above, up from just 14 per cent in2010.

"We’re supporting families making the switch to heat pumps, rather than forcing them, with our £7,500 heat pump grant – one of the most generous schemes in Europe.”