Patrick Harvie has defended his government's strategy to place fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps after a businessman who supplies them said they struggle in Scottish winters.
The Greens minister for zero carbon buildings has insisted that heat pumps are a “tried and tested” technology which heat homes in a greener way than traditional gas boilers.
The Herald on Sunday revealed that Mr Harvie is set to penalise gas boilers in a shake-up of energy efficiency ratings in a bid to encourage people to switch to a heat pump.
Read more: Gas boilers set to be penalised under energy efficiency overhaul
the minsiter was responding to comments from Lord Haughey, a Labour peer who made millions through a refrigeration business.
Lord Haughey told the Mail on Sunday that heat pumps “don’t work as efficiently in Scotland as they do in other countries” and some can malfunction at temperatures of -5C or lower.
The Scottish Government wants to convert one million homes to low or zero-emission heating by 2030.
Read more: Patrick Harvie admits government 'decades behind' on renewable heating
Air source heat pumps use electricity to extract heat from outdoor air in order to warm up water for central heating systems.
Mr Harvie discussed Lord Haughey’s comments on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme.
He said: “It’s going to take us to 2045 to decarbonise our buildings, but we’re starting now and we need to accelerate.
“So this is not far-off futuristic technology, heat pumps are a very well-tried and tested technology.”
Read more: Half of Scots support Harvie's plan to phase out fossil fuel boilers
He also disputed Lord Haughey’s argument that heat pumps struggle in low temperatures.
Mr Harvie said: “Obviously in cold temperatures, whatever heating system you’re using is going to have to work a bit harder.
“We’re well used to cold temperatures in Scotland but we’re far from alone in that.”
European countries with the highest use of heat pumps also have the coldest winters such as Norway, Sweden and Finland, he said.
Mr Harvie said companies are investing in smaller, more efficient heat pumps, adding: “That’s where the innovation is going. That’s where the industry is going.
“And I genuinely hope that Willie Haughey chooses to invest a bit in R&D and catch up.”
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