The government has officially launched the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) a grant to support property owners in England and Wales with capital costs to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps.
Background to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is part of the Governments’ net zero strategy to lower carbon emissions by 2050, designed to help incentivise the installation of heat pumps after the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) closed on 31 March 2022.
Why We Need It
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) reports that around 14% of the UK’s total carbon emissions come from heating our homes. This makes the Boiler Upgrade Scheme a key driver to help the UK reach its net zero target of 2050, and to help ensure that all new heating system installations will be low carbon by 2035.
The Funding You Can Receive from BUS
The Government is providing £450 million to fund the Boiler Upgrade Scheme over three years. This will be used to provide grants of:
- £5,000 for homeowners to have air source heat pumps installed,
- £6,000 for ground source heat pumps, or
- £5,000 for a biomass boiler if the house is in a rural location and not connected to the gas grid.
As the funding is administered through grants, homeowners will be required to pay the difference if costs exceed the grant.
A Positive Step for Encouraging Low Carbon Heating Systems in UK Homes
The BUS grant is a significant improvement on the RHI repayment scheme, which required homeowners to find the money before being reimbursed.
BUS grants will help property owners overcome the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies; therefore no longer presenting a cost barrier for households who don’t have the means to pay for the installation initially.
Who is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Most homeowners, small landlords and private landlords in England and Wales will be eligible to apply for BUS grant.
However, all applicants must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), typically one which has been issued in the last 10 years.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is ideal for homeowners who:
- Live off-grid, particularly properties fuelled by Oil, LPG or Storage Heaters
- Have old and inefficient boilers with well insulated property
- Looking to lower their carbon emissions and turn to sustainable energy generation
How to Apply
The scheme is open to applicants from April 2022 and will operate on a first-come first-served basis, until April 2025.
- Applications will begin from 23 May, although you can start to get quotes now providing the commissioning date of your new heating system is on or after 1 April 2022.
- Your chosen MCS-certified heat pump installer will apply for the grant on your behalf and the value is then taken off the price you pay.
- Redeeming the voucher will be led by the installer, who will confirm proof of the installation and process the completed paperwork.
You will then need to confirm that the installer is acting on your behalf when you’re contacted by Ofgem.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote
As an MCS-certified heat pump installer, we encourage you to ask us any questions and contact us for your renewable heating system quote.
We can help you choose the right option for your home and support you with your application for BUS vouchers.
For more information, visit our Renewables webpages or contact us at [email protected]
Add a Comment