Climate Change Committee report: What it means for training centres
24 Mar 2025
What does the latest Climate Change Committee (CCC) report say?
To reach the UK’s legally binding net-zero target by 2050, we must fundamentally change how we drive our cars and heat our homes, suggests The Climate Change Committee (CCC) in the 2024 report. The UK should now be in a phase of rapid investment and delivery, yet almost all indicators for low-carbon technology roll-out are off track:
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Annual heat pump installations must increase from approximately 55,000 units per year to over 600,000 annual installations by 2028 – a tenfold increase requiring at least 20,000 additional heat pump engineers
-
Only 60,000 heat pumps were installed in homes in 2023, a 4% increase from the previous year but a figure that is still falling short
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By 2030, approximately 10% of existing UK homes will need to be heated by heat pumps, compared to only 1% today
-
Annual offshore wind installations must increase by at least three times, onshore wind installations need to double and solar installations must increase fivefold
-
The market share of electric cars need to rise from 16.5% today to nearly 100% by 2030
The report notes that the cost of key low-carbon technologies is falling, creating a crucial opportunity for the UK to boost investment and enhance energy security. British-based renewable energy is positioned as the cheapest and fastest way to reduce dependence on volatile global fossil fuel markets.
To stay on track for the next carbon budget, UK greenhouse gas emissions should fall to just below 13% of 1990 levels by 2040, with significant cuts coming from household choices.
What are the opportunities for training centres?
Training centres are well positioned as integral partners in this transition, with the report recommending increased government support for facilities offering qualifications in heat pumps, solar PV and energy efficiency measures.
By offering the right qualifications, LCL Awards approved training centres can play an essential role in addressing the climate challenge and deliver renewables qualifications in line with the rapidly growing industry. Heat pump installation and maintenance engineers have been highlighted as critically in demand, as well as solar PV installers and system designers. The report explicitly calls for rapid expansion of training programs to address the skills gap in low-carbon technologies.
Addressing industry skills gaps with LCL Awards qualifications
The transition to net-zero requires a skilled workforce ready to implement sustainable technologies. LCL Awards offer several targeted qualifications that directly address the skills gaps identified in the report.
Heat pump installation expertise
The Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems equips professionals with essential skills to support the UK's ambitious target of 600,000 annual heat pump installations. Following the increase in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to £7,500, funding applications have risen, meaning qualified heat pump installers are in higher demand than ever before.
Solar energy specialists
To achieve the fivefold increase in solar deployment needed by 2030, the industry requires qualified installers and system designers for solar PV. More than 1.5 million MCS-certified solar PV installations have been deployed across the UK, with 500,000 installations since 2019 even though subsidies ended - a testament to the increasing consumer demand for clean energy. Despite this, photovoltaic capacity remains significantly off track.
The CCC has recommended targeting 85 GW of installed solar capacity by 2050 to achieve net-zero emissions, necessitating an average annual installation of 3 GW. Scaling up to meet this target will undoubtedly require a substantial increase in skilled professionals across various sectors of the solar industry. The Level 3 Award In the Installation and Maintenance of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems provides comprehensive training to meet this growing demand.
The CCC also emphasizes the critical role of battery storage in achieving a reliable, secure and decarbonised power system by 2035. The report underscores the importance of integrating various energy storage solutions, such as batteries and green hydrogen, to enhance grid flexibility and reliability. The Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems offers career prospects in this area, an ideal add-on for solar photovoltaIc installers.
EV infrastructure integration
Since June 2022, Part S of the Building Regulations has required new homes and buildings with parking to include EV charging points. This regulatory change creates significant demand for skilled installers. The Level 3 Award in the Installation and Commissioning of Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment in Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Locations prepares engineers to install EV charging points in domestic, commercial and industrial locations.
Whole-house decarbonisation solutions
The need for qualified installers who understand integrated approaches to building decarbonisation will be essential for the transition to low carbon systems. The Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems complements other renewable energy qualifications, enabling professionals to offer comprehensive sustainable energy solutions.
Strategic considerations for training centres
For LCL Awards approved training centres, the transition to net zero represents a significant opportunity to expand capacity and deliver the skilled workforce needed. Centres that are not delivering renewables qualifications should consider updating curricula to reflect the latest technologies in renewables and clean energy.
Establishing partnerships with manufacturers, merchants and relevant industry bodies provides a supportive approach to training, wherein newly qualified installers gain confidence from practical, hands-on experience, setting them up for a successful transition from classroom to career, ready to meet real-world requirements.
Future-proofing skills and careers
With the sector increasingly moving in a low carbon direction, ensuring that engineers are knowledgeable and experienced in related technologies will not only serve to reinforce workforce numbers, but also provide opportunities for workers to future-proof their career. Engineers with qualifications in multiple renewable technologies will be particularly valuable as the market continues to expand; an exciting opportunity for installers and centres alike.
What does the latest Climate Change Committee (CCC) report say?
To reach the UK’s legally binding net-zero target by 2050, we must fundamentally change how we drive our cars and heat our homes, suggests The Climate Change Committee (CCC) in the 2024 report. The UK should now be in a phase of rapid investment and delivery, yet almost all indicators for low-carbon technology roll-out are off track:
-
Annual heat pump installations must increase from approximately 55,000 units per year to over 600,000 annual installations by 2028 – a tenfold increase requiring at least 20,000 additional heat pump engineers
-
Only 60,000 heat pumps were installed in homes in 2023, a 4% increase from the previous year but a figure that is still falling short
-
By 2030, approximately 10% of existing UK homes will need to be heated by heat pumps, compared to only 1% today
-
Annual offshore wind installations must increase by at least three times, onshore wind installations need to double and solar installations must increase fivefold
-
The market share of electric cars need to rise from 16.5% today to nearly 100% by 2030
The report notes that the cost of key low-carbon technologies is falling, creating a crucial opportunity for the UK to boost investment and enhance energy security. British-based renewable energy is positioned as the cheapest and fastest way to reduce dependence on volatile global fossil fuel markets.
To stay on track for the next carbon budget, UK greenhouse gas emissions should fall to just below 13% of 1990 levels by 2040, with significant cuts coming from household choices.
What are the opportunities for training centres?
Training centres are well positioned as integral partners in this transition, with the report recommending increased government support for facilities offering qualifications in heat pumps, solar PV and energy efficiency measures.
By offering the right qualifications, LCL Awards approved training centres can play an essential role in addressing the climate challenge and deliver renewables qualifications in line with the rapidly growing industry. Heat pump installation and maintenance engineers have been highlighted as critically in demand, as well as solar PV installers and system designers. The report explicitly calls for rapid expansion of training programs to address the skills gap in low-carbon technologies.
Addressing industry skills gaps with LCL Awards qualifications
The transition to net-zero requires a skilled workforce ready to implement sustainable technologies. LCL Awards offer several targeted qualifications that directly address the skills gaps identified in the report.
Heat pump installation expertise
The Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems equips professionals with essential skills to support the UK's ambitious target of 600,000 annual heat pump installations. Following the increase in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to £7,500, funding applications have risen, meaning qualified heat pump installers are in higher demand than ever before.
Solar energy specialists
To achieve the fivefold increase in solar deployment needed by 2030, the industry requires qualified installers and system designers for solar PV. More than 1.5 million MCS-certified solar PV installations have been deployed across the UK, with 500,000 installations since 2019 even though subsidies ended - a testament to the increasing consumer demand for clean energy. Despite this, photovoltaic capacity remains significantly off track.
The CCC has recommended targeting 85 GW of installed solar capacity by 2050 to achieve net-zero emissions, necessitating an average annual installation of 3 GW. Scaling up to meet this target will undoubtedly require a substantial increase in skilled professionals across various sectors of the solar industry. The Level 3 Award In the Installation and Maintenance of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems provides comprehensive training to meet this growing demand.
The CCC also emphasizes the critical role of battery storage in achieving a reliable, secure and decarbonised power system by 2035. The report underscores the importance of integrating various energy storage solutions, such as batteries and green hydrogen, to enhance grid flexibility and reliability. The Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems offers career prospects in this area, an ideal add-on for solar photovoltaIc installers.
EV infrastructure integration
Since June 2022, Part S of the Building Regulations has required new homes and buildings with parking to include EV charging points. This regulatory change creates significant demand for skilled installers. The Level 3 Award in the Installation and Commissioning of Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment in Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Locations prepares engineers to install EV charging points in domestic, commercial and industrial locations.
Whole-house decarbonisation solutions
The need for qualified installers who understand integrated approaches to building decarbonisation will be essential for the transition to low carbon systems. The Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems complements other renewable energy qualifications, enabling professionals to offer comprehensive sustainable energy solutions.
Strategic considerations for training centres
For LCL Awards approved training centres, the transition to net zero represents a significant opportunity to expand capacity and deliver the skilled workforce needed. Centres that are not delivering renewables qualifications should consider updating curricula to reflect the latest technologies in renewables and clean energy.
Establishing partnerships with manufacturers, merchants and relevant industry bodies provides a supportive approach to training, wherein newly qualified installers gain confidence from practical, hands-on experience, setting them up for a successful transition from classroom to career, ready to meet real-world requirements.
Future-proofing skills and careers
With the sector increasingly moving in a low carbon direction, ensuring that engineers are knowledgeable and experienced in related technologies will not only serve to reinforce workforce numbers, but also provide opportunities for workers to future-proof their career. Engineers with qualifications in multiple renewable technologies will be particularly valuable as the market continues to expand; an exciting opportunity for installers and centres alike.