Did you know that you can get financial support to install an air source heat pump?
This should come as welcome news to anyone who is considering upgrading their heating system with a sustainable alternative but is concerned about the cost!
So, who is eligible, how much money can you get, and how do you get it?
Find out all you need to know right here in the Heat Pump Gang guide to air source heat pump grants.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government heat pump grant that replaced the earlier Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2022.
This is currently the biggest grant amount available and can be used for ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps (as well as biomass boilers, in some cases).
With the earlier scheme, property owners were allocated funds on a tariff basis according to their individual circumstances; there was no set amount given, and the amounts varied greatly.
With BUS, however, everyone gets the same amount of money!
Check out: What Is An Air Source Heat Pump?
To qualify for the BUS grant, you need to meet a few conditions, which are outlined here:
First, your property must be located in England or Wales.
Those in Scotland will need to check the Warm Home Energy Scotland scheme, funded by the Scottish government. The grant amount is similar, but the process and eligibility criteria may be different.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme focuses on improving the energy efficiency of existing residential dwellings. This means detached and semi-detached houses (including bungalows) can benefit from grant support to switch to low-carbon heating systems.
While individual flats within larger buildings typically aren't included, there might be some hope for self-contained flats with independent heating systems. It's best to check with the scheme for these specific cases.
Small businesses operating in shops, offices, and even village halls can potentially qualify for the grant. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Brand new properties constructed after April 1st, 2022, are generally excluded as they're assumed to be built in accordance with the current energy efficiency standards. The only exception here is for new self-build properties, but they cannot have been previously owned by a business or organisation.
Social housing currently falls outside the scope of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, although each housing organisation may have its own plans to introduce sustainable heating systems in due course.
Discover: Heat Pumps For Flats
All properties must hold a valid Energy Performance Certificate, although the minimum EPC rating stipulation was recently removed. Previously, a property would not be eligible if it had outstanding cavity wall insulation recommendations.
However, adequate insulation is recommended for homes with heat pumps, as this enables them to work even more effectively.
Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the system's maximum capacity can't be more than 45 kWth (kilowatts thermal), and this applies to individual heating systems.
It must also meet the minimum efficiency levels (don't worry, your installer will handle this for you!).
Only legal property owners can claim the full grant for a ground source heat pump. This ensures the financial benefits go directly to those investing in their property's energy efficiency.
As the homeowner, you'll be responsible for arranging and paying for the heat pump installation.
Landlords can apply for the BUS grant to upgrade the heating systems in their rental properties (houses or small non-domestic buildings) with an air source heat pump. There are no restrictions on the type of tenancy agreement you have or the rent you charge. So, you can make your rental properties more energy-efficient while potentially attracting eco-conscious tenants.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is all about making a complete switch to a low-carbon heating system. It's not designed for upgrading your existing system.
Here are the rules in a nutshell:
Important Note: The BUS grant cannot be used to upgrade existing low-carbon systems like air source heat pumps or biomass boilers. However, if a ground source heat pump isn't a practical choice, you can apply directly for a ground source heat pump or biomass boiler grant (although the latter is limited to rural properties off the gas grid).
Finally, the funding can't be used for hybrid systems that combine air source heat pumps with traditional gas boilers; the whole point of the scheme is to end reliance on fossil fuels!
The government recently boosted the amount from £6,000 to £7,500, which is great news.
Considering that the average installation costs come in at between £2,000 and £15,000, this represents a fair chunk of the overall amount. In fact, there's a good chance that the full amount could be covered, meaning that you get your air source heat pump for free!
All you need to do is cover the running costs and enjoy the benefits of lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.
First things first, you need a qualified installer. Look for a company certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) – like Heat Pump Gang! We’re the experts when it comes to installing heat pumps and ensuring everything meets BUS grant requirements.
Your chosen installer will chat with you about your property and existing system to see if it qualifies for the grant. They'll also provide a quote for the complete installation.
Here's the good bit – you don't have to deal with the grant application yourself! The MCS installer will handle the entire process:
All you have to do is:
Once the installation is complete and everything is checked, simply grant the installer access to your property to finish the work. You'll then pay the remaining installation cost, minus the generous BUS grant you received. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy a more eco-friendly and potentially more affordable way to heat your home!
If the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a dead end, don't despair, as there may be other ways to secure heat pump funding.
One potential avenue to try is the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) initiative, specifically aimed at low-income households. To apply, you need to contact your energy supplier directly, as they are obliged to set aside a certain amount of funding to assist customers.
It's also worth contacting your local authority, as they may have a small-scale funding allocation that's not widely advertised.
You might also want to check out the Energy Saving Trust, Warmer Homes Scotland, and Ofgem themselves for updated information.
While the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is due to end soon, other government grants will undoubtedly replace it. Whatever happens on the political front, the government will be keen to introduce measures to achieve the 'net-zero' target by 2050, if not sooner.
This means more funding for energy-saving materials, methods, and technology.
Heat Pump Gang is proud of its role in converting properties to become more sustainable.
It's not just about bringing lower heating costs - although this is obviously very important to most consumers - it's also about taking advantage of green tech, like solar panels, heat pumps, and loft insulation, to tackle the climate emergency.
And if we all play our part, we'll leave the planet in a better state for our future generations to enjoy.
