Boiler Upgrade Scheme expanded

The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme is being expanded to include air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries.

According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, demand for clean heating is at an “unprecedented” high right now.

In fact, the number of applications for heat pumps has reached record levels this year, with September being the best month for applications in history.

Thousands of pounds off upfront costs

Under the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme, households can get grants of £7,500 to cut the cost of installing an air source or ground source heat pump.

But following the changes, people will be able to get a £2,500 discount off the cost of installing an air-to-air heat pump.

The government believes this will give families more choice in how they upgrade their home and offer them the best of both worlds - heat in winter and cool temperatures in summer.

Households will also be able to claim £2,500 off the price of heat batteries.

Am I eligible for a grant?

You’re eligible for a grant if you own the property you’re applying for and you’re replacing fossil fuel heating systems.

And you can still apply even if you’ve already had funding to make the property more energy efficient.

Check here for more details.

“With heat pumps more popular than ever, we want to make sure as many people as possible can benefit, especially those in flats or small homes without central heating,” said energy consumers minister Martin McCluskey.

Abigail Ward of the Energy Saving Trust added that the expansion of the scheme will make the upfront cost of low carbon technologies affordable to more households.

“Accelerating the roll out of low carbon heating is key to cutting carbon emissions and reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuels - one of the root causes of high energy bills,” she commented.