The BEIS Select Committee have been accused of “deliberately misreading” Ministerial plans for decarbonising UK homes in its latest report, published this week, according to Mike Foster, chief executive of the not for profit trade body Energy and Utilities Alliance.

Leaping to the defence of BEIS Ministers, Mr Foster highlighted comments in the report that are factually untrue and others that deliberately misinterpret Government plans. He said:

“In defence of Ministers, this report is a deliberate misreading of Government policy around hydrogen for heating. It tries to minimise the actions the Government have embarked upon, which at best is unfortunate, at worst an unfair and misplaced attack.”

The report also contradicts itself, which makes a mockery of it. On the one hand they claim the Government does not see a large scale role for hydrogen in heating but then go on to acknowledge the trials being undertaken for whole hydrogen villages and towns, with the Government making a strategic decision about the role of hydrogen for heating in 2026. If there was no role envisaged, there would be no trials and no strategic decision required.

It is precisely because the Government can see a role that they have undertaken trials for hydrogen-ready boilers; are planning a consultation of their roll out this year; plan for hydrogen-blending in 2023, have announced plans for hydrogen towns and villages and yes, make a big, strategic decision by 2026.

One can only guess why the report has misread Government plans, by accident or design. Either way, it is an unfair attack on Government Ministers that renders what is good in the report as next to useless.”