What does the UK need to do to reach net zero?
From better builds to smarter controls, E.ON experts are tackling the UK’s net zero puzzle, piece by piece. As the clock ticks towards 2050, we speak to the people behind the progress – unpacking the real-world solutions turning ambition into action.
To reach net zero by 2050, the UK needs to accelerate change across the way we power, heat, move and manage our lives. It’s a big ask, but with the right technology, policies and behaviour shifts, it’s possible.
At E.ON, we’re not just talking about a greener future – we’re building it. From helping people to heat their homes more efficiently, to transforming how cities move and operate, our teams are driving progress across the UK every day.
So, what’s needed? Here’s a look at the major moves the country must make – and how we’re already making them happen.
1. Power homes the low-carbon way
With Phil Gilbert, Director of Net Zero Delivery at E.ON Next
One of the biggest shifts we need to make is how we heat our homes. Today, most households still rely on gas boilers – a major source of the UK’s overall emissions. The answer lies in low carbon solutions, such as heat pumps. These work by drawing energy from the air or ground (even on colder days) and use electricity to heat water and homes more efficiently, without the carbon.
The Climate Change Committee recommends that by 2040, more than half of all homes in the UK should be equipped with heat pumps, and we’re already making strides to get us there.
“If we’re serious about decarbonising the UK’s housing stock, then we need to make heat pumps the norm. They’re proven, reliable and scalable. We’re helping thousands of customers across the UK make the switch every year – and we’re seeing a real appetite from people who want to future-proof their homes and lower their energy bills.”
Behind the scenes, Phil also heads up E.ON’s Net Zero Academy, a key training hub designed to upskill our engineers and partner installers to support our customers on their low-carbon transition.
The academy is not only helping to deliver a workforce fit for a net zero future – it’s setting a new standard for how energy companies empower people with the skills they need to drive real change.
2. Supercharge the switch to electric vehicles
With Dave Butters, Director of E.ON Drive
Transport is another big emitter, and electrifying it is essential. Four in five cars on UK roads should be electric by 2040.
The good news is that uptake is growing fast. More than 20,000 public charging points were added in 2024 alone, and new EV registrations in the UK now outpace Germany. But there’s more to do – especially in building confidence and infrastructure.
“The future of transport is electric, and we’re not waiting around for it. From fast, reliable charging at home, at work and on the road to tariffs that make EV charging the economic choice , E.ON Drive is helping to make EVs an easy, accessible choice. We want to take away the friction and help people get on the road to net zero.
3. Build greener from the ground up
With Matt Hart, Director of Residential New Build, E.ON Next
The homes we build today will shape our carbon footprint for decades. If the UK is serious about hitting net zero by 2050, then ensuring new homes are energy efficient from day one is essential.
That means moving away from gas boilers and poor insulation, and designing homes that can generate, store and use energy smartly. Think solar panels on roofs, heat pumps instead of boilers, EV charging, all supported by a battery and simple software to manage them all – and of course we need energy efficient buildings baked in from the start.
“We’re working closely with developers through our investment in Eco2Solar to embed sustainable technology into every new home. It’s not just about ticking a green box, it’s about building properties that are future-proof, comfortable to live in, and affordable to run. Low-carbon technologies such as solar, EV charging and heat pumps are becoming the new standard for new builds – and that’s a huge step in the right direction.”
4. Get smart with solar and home energy tech
With Chloe Fong, Head of Product at E.ON Next
To decarbonise the grid, we need more renewable energy feeding into it — and that’s where smart home energy systems are changing the game. With more homes installing solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers, there’s a huge opportunity to use — and share — energy more intelligently.
That’s why E.ON Next has partnered with Amber, a groundbreaking Australian energy platform, to give UK customers real-time access to dynamic energy prices.
It’s about putting people in control - so households can charge when prices are low, sell energy back to the grid when prices peak, and get the most from their home batteries and solar panels — all while supporting a greener, more flexible energy system.
"Decarbonising the grid demands a smarter approach to energy, and that's precisely what our partnership with Amber will allow us to deliver to our customers. By empowering households with solar panels and batteries to intelligently utilise and export their energy based on real-time dynamic pricing, we're unlocking a significant opportunity to reduce our reliance on carbon-intensive generation at peak times. It means our customers can charge during periods of abundant, affordable green electricity and strategically feed their clean power back into the grid when it's most needed.”
5. Cut carbon by cutting waste
With Matt Brown, Managing Director of E.ON Control Solutions
Finally, there’s a huge opportunity to make buildings smarter - and waste less energy in the process. Optimising heating, lighting and ventilation systems in commercial buildings, schools and hospitals could cut emissions significantly, without the need for new tech – just smarter management
Our E.ON Control Solutions team does just that, operating across a huge number of sectors – data centres, commercial office spaces, leisure, hospitality, pharmaceuticals – to help these organisations reduce their consumption, emissions and costs through advanced control systems and intelligent monitoring.
“Most buildings don’t need a tech overhaul – they need insight. We help clients to understand where energy is being wasted and implement strategies that make an immediate impact. It's the invisible stuff that often makes the biggest difference, and with today’s data and controls, we can unlock huge efficiencies in the way the UK uses energy.”
The UK’s path to net zero won’t be easy - but it’s clear. It’s about electrifying the way we move, heating homes more sustainably, generating our own clean power, and managing energy smarter.
We’re proud that E.ON is at the heart of that transformation, working across homes, businesses and local authorities to build a net zero future from the ground up.