- Ambient’s boiler data analysis found 17% of UK boilers are over 12 years old, with 3.9 million needing replacement by 2027.
- Public access to boiler age data could help target homeowners with clean heating options before their boilers fail.
- Experts believe this could accelerate the adoption of heat pumps, create jobs, and support the UK’s net-zero goals.
Ambient’s new boiler data has the power to propel a faster, cleaner heating transition
Ambient, a data-driven nonprofit, analysed 60,000 records from the Gas Safe Register. It found that 17% of boilers are over 12 years old, and 3.9 million boilers will need replacement by 2027.
The data presents a huge opportunity
If the Gas Safe Register’s data on boiler age was made publicly available, it could help the government and industry target homeowners with cleaner heating options. Currently, most people wait until their boiler breaks before replacing it. Having access to boiler data would allow for proactive outreach.
Irene Omaswa, Founding Chair of Ambient, says:
“We support the government’s plans to decarbonise the grid by 2030. Electrification of heat is necessary to fully realise their ambitions for energy security. In the long term, this will protect consumers; lowering energy bills for good and creating comfortable, warm homes.
EPC data was previously made public to support national climate objectives and has massively increased innovation in the sector. Recognising the benefits of understanding boiler age at household level, Ambient believes that it is in the public interest to harness the Gas Safe Register data for the benefit of all. We look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to make this happen.”
Opening access to boiler age data would have wide-reaching benefits. It could create new jobs, lower energy bills, reduce fuel poverty, and boost investor confidence. Ambient’s report highlights that sharing this information could be a game-changer for decarbonising homes.
The clean heat transition does not have to be reactive. With accurate data on our boiler health, we can make informed, practical decisions in advance. That means we can be better prepared for the new age of heat. Heat pump advocates, including our inaugural Heat Pump Leader, commented on the data.
Katy King, Deputy Director, Sustainable Future Mission, Nesta, said:
“High quality, reliable, public data has the potential to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps to decarbonise homes. An open and accessible Gas Safe Register is crucial for timely and responsive local area energy planning, tailored heat pump marketing and enabling coordinated switching. Speeding up heat pump adoption is essential to reaching net zero. One in ten households need to install a heat pump during the life of this Parliament to meet the UK’s climate obligations. This would require a 12-fold increase in installations over five years when compared with the last five years.”
Heat Pump Leader, and Director of European Programmes, Regulatory Assistance Project, Jan Rosenow, added:
“A household level view of boiler age could enable the targeting of government clean heating programmes. Making the most of Gas safe data is a critical enabler for this and I’m very excited to see Ambient’s insights on this data.”
