On the 21st of September, the Government released a notice outlining a big change to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. From the 23rd of October 2023, the grant level for air-source heat pumps and ground-source heat pumps will be increased from £5,000 (air source) and £6,000 (ground source) to £7,500.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is an arrangement that allows homeowners and small businesses to receive money towards the cost of energy-efficiency measures. It is specifically designed to target how buildings are heated. Customers have previously been able to benefit from:
- £5000 grant for an air source heat pump
- £6000 grant for a ground source heat pump
- £5000 grant for a biomass boiler
The BUS has thus far proved to be an essential part of the UK’s Net Zero strategy. It has allowed many households and businesses to upgrade the efficiency of their dwellings. In fact, over 4,600 households have used the scheme to replace their gas boiler with a heat pump*.
The Change to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The recent changes introduced by the government will spell change for the BUS from October 2023. As stated at the outset of this article, the grant levels are being adjusted. The amount of money available to go towards measures such as heat pumps will be increased. The government have agreed upon the following adjustments:
- Grants for Air Source Heat Pumps: Increasing from £5000 to £7500
- Grants for Ground Source Heat Pumps: Increasing from £6000 to £7500
What will be the effect of this adjustment?
This change will go even further to assist those in fuel poverty or lower-income households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Grants such as these are a key tool in the battle against energy inefficiency. It helps to make our homes safer, warmer and more energy-efficient. Thanks to these upgrades, homeowners can enjoy a higher quality of life whilst their houses fall in line with a greener future for the United Kingdom as a whole.
* Statistic gleaned from research conducted by NESTA
