It has been well-known for years that fossil fuels are not a reliable long term energy source. Although, moving away from them is easier said than done. Nevertheless, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is helping the UK to do just that.
What is the BUS?
The Government has allocated £450 million to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which is to take effect over three years. £150 million per year will be put towards up-front grants to help homeowners switch to clean energy sources (such as heat pumps) to heat their homes. This financial boost is designed to make it easier for families to ditch their traditional gas and oil systems. Also, all of this is on top of the 5 year 0% rate of VAT for heat pumps which is already in effect.
Funding is available through a simple application process. Installers will apply on behalf of consumers, and the up-front funding will be deducted from their quotes. They will be able to secure a grant of:
- £5000 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
- £5000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler
- £6000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump
What will it Achieve?
It seems that the boiler upgrade scheme will be immensely beneficial. For instance, this influx of funding is going to help kick-start the British Heat Pump Manufacturing industry. This will not only bring down the price in the future but also create jobs in the meantime. It will contribute to the estimated 175,000 green skilled jobs to be delivered by 2030 thanks to this and other Government commitments.
Additionally, this boost in the industry will set the UK up in a strong position for export. The market for electric heat pumps in Europe is set to rapidly expand in the coming years. This will be a huge opportunity for British companies to trade internationally. Thus, job roles in research and development, production, supply chain and installation are sure to increase in number.
Also, the benefits for the UK’s energy sector will be tremendous. The BUS makes low-carbon, energy-efficient alternatives a possibility for thousands of households. The individuals benefitting from this scheme now will lessen their reliance on fossil fuels, cut their emissions and reduce their energy bills. Ideally, projects such as this one will lead to low-carbon heating alternatives costing no more than gas and oil boilers in the future.
On a national scale, it is a valuable contribution towards our goal of Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050. As more and more households switch to low-carbon energy solutions, we will see the emissions rate fall further and further.
Overall, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is set to have a hugely positive impact. You can read more about it here. If you would like to get closer to the energy industry, please consider taking one of our online courses. We offer online distance learning courses as well as in-person training. You can book your space here, or give us a call at 0333 012 0002.
