British Gas appoints Net Zero specialist to tackle fuel poverty in 1,500 homes across Wales

British Gas has selected Sero to provide retrofit coordination services for approximately 1,500 homes annually over an initial three years.

Cardiff-based Net Zero technology specialist, Sero, will provide British Gas with a programme of works required to decarbonise the homes, which will align with the PAS2035 retrofitting standard.

This will include the implementation of low carbon technologies including insulation, low carbon heating and renewable energy technologies. Sero will also be responsible for end-to-end project oversight supporting and coordinating works undertaken by British Gas’ Retrofit Assessors and Installers.

The announcement comes after British Gas won a £200m, 7-year contract with the Welsh Government to deliver its Warm Homes Programme, which aims to tackle fuel poverty and deliver on the government’s target of net zero by 2050.

Based on a set of agreed outcomes, Sero will provide British Gas with Improvement Options Evaluations (IOE) and Medium Term Improvement Plans (MTIP), outlining improvement measures required and the sequence of works – or ‘pathway’ – for each property.

British Gas will review each pathway and provide residents with key information about the energy efficiency measures proposed for their homes. After the works are complete, home occupiers will also have an opportunity to feedback on whether the work has met their expectations.

The Welsh Government says the Warm Homes Programme will tackle emissions in residential housing, promote sustainable Welsh materials and support Welsh skills and jobs. It also says it will utlilise lessons and experience gained from the Optimised Retrofit Programme, through which Sero supported a consortium of social landlords who retrofitted more than 1,700 homes.

Ross Kirwan, NEST operations manager at British Gas, said: “We are aware of Sero’s reputation when it comes to large scale retrofitting programmes, which is why we have selected them as a partner on this project. British Gas is committed to supporting the Welsh Government’s Net Zero targets and we look forward to providing innovative and sustainable solutions for residents across Wales.”

Andy Sutton, co-founder and chief innovation officer of Sero, said: “We are excited to begin our work with British Gas to decarbonise homes across Wales and help meet the Welsh Government’s net zero 2050 target. Retrofitting homes at scale is complex, and we will use our experience in coordinating such projects to ensure this programme runs smoothly and that home owners are left with lower energy bills and healthier homes.”