In an earlier newsletter, we explored the impact of an increase in the energy price cap on the demand for renewable energy alternatives. There has since been further developments, and recently it was announced that we should see a stabilisation of the energy price cap, and from September consumers should see a reduction in costs in comparison to the previous quarter. Despite this, Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem said that energy prices will still remain ‘significantly higher than the pre-crisis costs,’ with there only expected to be a reduction of £122 per annum (with the total annual cost for an average household expected to be £1568 (Ofgem, 2024.) At GRE, we are optimists and as they say every cloud… In this case, the silver lining is for installers of renewable energy, as there will still be high demand for alternative energy sources to offset the still costly prices. The remainder of this blog will examine the possible routes you can take to take advantage of this. So settle in, because whether you’re a plumber, heating or gas engineer or electrician, we have a course route for you.

Route for Plumbers/Heating or Gas Engineers:

I am going to make the assumption that if you are reading this blog you know what a heat pump is… What you might not have known is whilst most installers are now fairly clued up on the systems, consumers are not. In fact, it has been revealed that 59% of consumers don’t understand the systems enough to be confident in installing them (Pham Magazine, 2024.) Although the demand is there, it is important that customers are correctly informed on the benefits on the systems, and that’s why it is imperative that you know your stuff, and get proper training. At GRE, we cover the design, installation and maintenance of the systems, and have working examples so you can put your theory to use. The market has recently exploded, with the government and many large companies needing installers to meet their ambitious targets, and with more funding available than ever, it would be silly not to get involved in the industry.

Route for Electricians:

Solar PV is not new, but with recent developments in dynamic energy pricing, Electric Energy Storage Systems (batteries) are becoming extremely popular with consumers looking for effective ways to buy and store energy at certain times of the day to offset costs, and even make a profit. This combined with the current cost of solar panels, and the untapped commercial application makes for a seriously lucrative market for electricians to get into. At GRE, we have this in mind and is why we have combined both Solar PV and Battery installation training, to fully equipped you for the evolving market and new consumer demands.

Other Routes:

The above are the two most common routes, however we also offer courses in Solar Thermal, F-gas, and 1 day courses specialising in a variety of areas, all of which are geared towards renewable energy. You can find out more by viewing our courses page, or alternatively speaking to one of the team about which course is right for you.

Click here, or call us on 01246 588589.

References:

 Pham Magazine. (2024, May 15). Majority of homeowners lost when it comes to heat pumps. Pham Magazine. https://www.phamnews.co.uk/majority-of-homeowners-lost-when-it-comes-to-heat-pumps/

Ofgem. (2024, May 24). Changes to energy price cap between 1 July to 30 September 2024. Ofgem. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/changes-energy-price-cap-between-1-july-30-september-2024