Exciting News: Government Boosts Grants for Eco-Friendly Heating with Boiler Upgrade Scheme Uplift to £7,500

Great news for homeowners looking to transition to a more eco-friendly heating system in the UK! This week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a series of updates to government policies, including a substantial increase in grant values for air source and ground heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Heating Your Home the Green Way

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK Government initiative to help homeowners in England and Wales make the transition to low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps.

Launched in May 2023, the BUS scheme originally offered grants of £5,000 for installations of air source heat pumps, and £6,000 for installations of ground source heat pumps. Starting 23rd October 2023, eligible installations can now qualify for an impressive £7,500 grant per installation. This change represents a 50% increase for air source heat pumps! This boost in financial support is a powerful incentive for homeowners to switch to cleaner, more energy-efficient heating systems.

For homeowners considering the environmental benefits and long-term cost savings associated with heat pumps, this increase in grant value is fantastic news.

What You Need to Know

We are waiting for full details to be confirmed by the government, but if you’re considering taking advantage of these exciting grant enhancements, here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• The increased grant value comes into effect from 23rd October 2023.
• If you’ve already received your BUS grant, you won’t be eligible for an uplift in the grant amount.
• If you currently hold a live voucher, it retains its original value (£5,000 for air source heat pumps or £6,000 for ground source heat pumps).

These updates to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are progress towards a greener, more sustainable future for the UK. By providing increased financial support for low-carbon heating systems, the government is making it easier than ever for homeowners to make environmentally responsible choices while also enjoying lower energy bills.

Am I Eligible?

If this is the first you have heard about the BUS scheme, here are the key requirements to be eligible for the grant:

• Your property must be a home or small non-domestic building in England or Wales. The maximum installation capacity of 45kWth covers most of these properties.
• Your property must have a valid energy performance certificate with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation.
• The commissioning date of your low-carbon heating system must be on or after 1 April 2022.
• You must be fully replacing an existing fossil fuel system such as an oil or gas boiler, or an electric heating system such as storage heaters.
• Self-builds are eligible if the homeowner can demonstrate they funded the build. New-build homes and social housing are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
• Your installation will need to be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). MCS is the only recognised standards organisation in the UK for heat pump installations, assuring you of the quality of your product and the competence of your installer.

I Am a Homeowner; How Do I Access the Scheme?

The BUS scheme is an installer-led scheme. This means that the installer will apply for the grant on behalf of the homeowner. If you have any questions about the BUS scheme or would like to consider a heat pump installation for your property, get in touch and the Abode Heat team will be able to recommend the right system for you and your property.

I’m a Heating Engineer Without MCS Accreditation, Can My Customers Access the Scheme?

Good News! By using an MCS umbrella scheme like Heat Pump Go, Abode Heats’ own MCS umbrella scheme, your heat pump installations can be MCS certified. This allows your customers to access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

If you are not MCS accredited yourself, click here to learn more about our MCS umbrella scheme Heat Pump Go, or get in touch through the form below and one of our team will give you a call to answer any questions you might have.

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