Switch to low carbon heating
Heating our homes and workplaces with low carbon heat is one of the best things we can do to help combat climate change. Currently, heating all the buildings in the UK produces almost a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme will provide grants to encourage property owners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient, low carbon heating systems including air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and, in limited circumstances, biomass boilers.
Heating systems can be commissioned any time from 1 April 2022, and applications for grants opens from 23 May 2022. It has £450m funding confirmed over three years.
Replacing your current heating system with a heat pump will reduce your carbon footprint.
A heat pump takes heat at a low temperature from the air or ground, increases that heat to a higher temperature and transfers it into your home to provide heating and hot water. Heat pumps are much more efficient than traditional boilers.
Biomass boilers usually burn wood or wood pellets to deliver heating and hot water to your home.
You can find more information on low carbon heating technologies on the Simple Energy Advice site: www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/your-home/heating-and-hot-water
A qualified installer will be able to recommend which technology is most suitable for your property.
Grant Levels
- Grants will reduce the upfront cost of installing a low carbon heating system.
- £5,000 is available towards air source heat pumps and biomass boilers.
- £6,000 is available towards ground source heat pumps.
- We expect your installer to discount the value of the grant from the total cost
paid by you, and include this in their quote.
To make the application for the scheme as simple as possible, it will be led by your chosen installer, with an opportunity for you to give consent that you are happy to proceed with the application.
What will we do
- Apply to Ofgem, the scheme administrator, for a grant voucher.
- Provide your details to Ofgem. Ofgem will email you, asking you to consent to the installer applying on your behalf.
- Complete the installation in line with industry standards and scheme requirements.
- Redeem the voucher and receive the grant following installation and commissioning.
Eligibility
Your installer will work with you to ensure that your property and technology meet the full range of eligibility requirements. These are the key requirements:
- Homes and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales will be eligible. The maximum installation capacity of up to 45kWth covers the vast majority of these properties.
- Your property will need a valid energy performance certificate* with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation. This is because your heating system will work more efficiently with these insulation measures in place. For further information and details of exceptions, please speak to your installer.
- Biomass boilers are only eligible in rural locations and in properties off the gas grid.
- Heat pumps are eligible either on or off the gas grid.
- 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 oil, gas or direct electric. Funding will not be available for the replacement of existing low carbon heat systems.
- New build homes and social housing will not be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, although custom-build properties will be eligible.
You can check to see if your home has an energy performance certificate by searching here: www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
Application Form
Complete the short form below and Renewable Heat Partnership will get in touch to progress your application.
