Boris Johnson trumpeted his 'big bet' on going green today despite criticism that only 90,000 households are set to get grants for heat pumps in homes.
The PM talked up the UK's determination to lead the fight against climate change in a speech to business chiefs including Bill Gates, as he prepares to unveil the government's Net Zero strategy.
However, in the face of anger from Tory MPs and homeowners Mr Johnson seems to have ditched the idea of a total ban on gas boilers from 2035. Instead there will be a 'target' for all new installations to be environmentally-friendly options such as heat pumps.
Families will be encouraged to install low-carbon systems from April with £5,000 grants, costing taxpayers in England and Wales at least £450million.
But the funding will cover just 90,000 heat pump installations over three years - far short of the PM's goal of 600,000 a year by 2028.
Mr Johnson will launched the Heat and Buildings Strategy with a speech in London today, mapping out how the UK will move away from polluting energy sources in homes and public buildings.
He is also hosting a global investment summit with business giants including Bill Gates to secure commitments on climate change.
It comes amid signs of rising tension between Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak as the Treasury warned of 'diminishing returns' from green investment - at a time when the UK's post-Covid economic recovery has slowed amid rising inflation and widespread shortages.
Prince Charles has increased the pressure on minister to act on climate change by describing how his grandson Prince George has been learning how global warming is causing 'the big storms, and floods, the droughts, fires and food shortages' around the world.
In an interview with Bloomberg last night, Mr Johnson said: 'The UK is deciding to make a big bet on green technology so the government is going in, setting the regulatory framework to encourage the private sector to come in, in the way that they are - and I've quoted some of the numbers for the investment that we are seeing.
'So we are making a big bet on wind power, on hydrogen, on electric vehicles, on gigafactories, on carbon capture and storage, all those things. And that's driving a lot of the investment.'
Boris Johnson is pressing ahead with plans to phase out the installation of conventional gas boilers in the next 15 years, despite Conservative warnings that the move could spark fury among the public
The boiler plans are outlined in the Government's long-awaited 'heat and buildings strategy', being published today (file image)
There are signs of rising tensions between the PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak as the Treasury warned of 'diminishing returns' from excessive green investment
Boris Johnson wants to push Britain towards new sources of energy for homes, including hydrogen, left, and ground source heat pumps, right
Speaking to broadcasters this morning, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan confirmed that the government was stopping short of introducing a future ban on gas boilers.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'At the moment we're encouraging the market to drive those changes.'
However, she did not rule out forcing the move later.
'In the short term, yes, of course this is a voluntary scheme,' she said.
'There will be a point at which that changes but, yes, for now that's the case.'
The Government unveils its details plans for achieving Net Zero today, detailing the full list of changes being adopted so that the UK can reduce its carbon emissions to 'net zero' by 2050.
Mr Johnson will deliver a speech outlining the case for the drive to go green, with less than two weeks before world leaders descend on Glasgow for the COP26 climate change summit.
Writing in The Sun, the Prime Minister vowed 'the greenshirts of the boiler police' won't kick down doors to rip out dirty gas boilers and said no one will have their 'trusty old combi' torn out by 'sandal-clad' inspectors.
'We're going to make carbon-free alternatives cheaper to install so that when you or your landlord next come to replace your boiler it makes more sense to go with a cleaner, more efficient replacement that you know will help the planet,' Mr Johnson added.
The boiler plans are outlined in the Government's long-awaited 'heat and buildings strategy', to be published today.
Ministers are desperate to reduce Britain's dependence on gas as soaring wholesale prices have sent domestic and business energy bills rocketing, writes Harriet Dennys.
An analysis of the UK's energy supply shows how gas is responsible for around 40 per cent of the overall mix.
Wind power provided almost a fifth of our electricity last month but its contribution fluctuates throughout the year
Wind power provided almost a fifth of our electricity last month but its contribution fluctuates throughout the year. It hit a peak of 26 per cent in February.
Our electricity comes from several other sources: nuclear, hydro, biomass, imports and the sun. But amounts vary considerably depending on the season, weather and time of day.
Solar power peaks in June, providing an average 7 per cent of our needs, but was just 0.6 per cent last December. Last week, the sun supplied 3.5 per cent of the UK's energy.
As gas prices soared last month, old coal plants had to be fired up to help meet electricity needs. Coal, which Ministers want to phase out, contributed two per cent of our electricity mix in September, up from 0.5 per cent a year previously.
Imports increased from seven per cent to ten per cent over the same period, and hydroelectric power doubled to one per cent.
Britain's over-reliance on gas is because 85 per cent of homes need it for heating. More than half of our gas is imported – it comes from Russia, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium through pipelines.
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Switching to low carbon heating in the coming years will cut emissions, and reduce the UK's dependency on fossil fuels and exposure to global price spikes in gas, the Government said.
Government sources also confirmed ministers will press ahead later this year with a plan to pile new 'green' levies on to gas bills. Levies on electricity will be cut in a bid to persuade consumers to switch to greener energy.
Friends of the Earth's Mike Childs said the Government's plans were 'quite modest'.
He added: 'Housing is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise but the Government is making it all the more difficult by leaving half its tools in the toolbox, with unambitious policies and inadequate funding.'
Mr Johnson is to announce £9.7billion of overseas investment in the UK, creating 30,000 jobs, Downing Street said.
The deals will support growth in areas such as wind energy, sustainable homes and carbon capture.
The Prime Minister will host business leaders including Microsoft co-founder Mr Gates at the Global Investment Summit at the Science Museum in London.
Yesterday also saw Ford reveal it is investing £230million to transform its Halewood factory on Merseyside to help build a new generation of zero-emissions cars. Its first electric vehicle parts hub in Europe will safeguard 500 jobs.
Prince Charles was introducing a documentary ahead of Cop26. He is shown holding a revolving earth in the footage, telling viewers: 'Your future depends upon the future of the planet.'
The Sky Kids documentary Cop26: In Your Hands features six young activists who highlight the impact of climate change on their corners of the Earth. The prince tells viewers: 'I'm old enough to have a grandson.
'Like you, he is learning how climate change is causing the big storms, and floods, the droughts, fires and food shortages we are seeing around the world.'
Charlie Mullins from Pimlico Plumbers has warned that putting new energy sources into 30million-plus homes 'would keep the country's current crop of heating engineers busy for a hundred years'.
There are also major questions about how some of these new solutions such as ground source heat pumps, can work for the millions of small homes and flats in Britain's cities because they need a hole between 50ft and 300ft deep - or long trenches measuring around 7,000sqft in the garden or grounds.
