The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has introduced it’s investigating main boiler producer Worcester Bosch over whether or not it has been deceptive shoppers by advertising a spread of gasoline boilers as “hydrogen-blend ready”.
The regulator – which is liable for implementing client safety regulation – stated its focus will probably be on whether or not “claims made about these products may mislead shoppers into thinking they are more environmentally friendly than they are”.
It follows a Sky News investigation final month which highlighted doubtlessly deceptive claims made by a variety of heating and boiler corporations – together with Worcester Bosch – and prompted the corporate to take away some details about hydrogen from its web site.
Hydrogen, which burns with out emitting carbon dioxide, is prone to play a major function in decarbonising heavy business and hitting web zero targets, however its potential use in residential properties stays unclear and will not be determined till 2026.
In distinction, authorities insurance policies are already in place to encourage uptake of electrical alternate options to boilers like warmth pumps, although Prime Minister Rishi Sunak just lately pushed again a ban on putting in new gasoline boilers to 2035 as a part of his rest of web zero measures.
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The time period “hydrogen-blend boiler” refers back to the capacity of the boiler to run on a mix of 20% hydrogen and 80% pure gasoline if modifications have been made to the UK gasoline provide sooner or later – one thing that has additionally been a part of discussions.
But the CMA stated advertising new boilers on this approach could “give the impression this is a special feature despite all boilers in the UK being legally required to operate this way since the mid-1990s”.
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The regulator stated it was additionally taking a look at claims that “falsely suggest that these boilers will reduce a household’s carbon footprint” with any potential introduction of hydrogen to the gasoline grid being “potentially years away and dependent on government decisions”.
Christ Stark, the chief government of the UK’s unbiased Climate Change Committee, instructed Sky News final month that “no one should be installing a gas boiler thinking that hydrogen is a sure thing” or a approach of future-proofing their residence.
George Lusty, senior director for client safety on the CMA stated: “Businesses need to be clear about the environmental credentials of the products they’re selling. This is especially important for heating products like home boilers, which are an expensive and long-term purchase.
“We set out our considerations earlier this yr about companies advertising boilers as ‘hydrogen-blend’. We’ll now be scrutinising inexperienced claims from Worcester Bosch to see in the event that they mislead consumers.”
A spokesperson for Worcester Bosch instructed Sky News: “We are in receipt of notice of investigation from the CMA and are assisting them in full with provision of information as requested.”
The CMA says it has additionally written to 12 different companies that promote hydrogen-blend boilers after reviewing their advertising, to warn them that they could possibly be breaching client safety regulation and to remind them of their authorized obligations.
Source: information.sky.com”