There’s been a significant 46% increase in applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme compared to last year, indicating a rise in homeowners adopting heat pumps.
Under the scheme, homeowners can receive up to £7,500 in grants if they replace their fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps.
At the moment, having wall and loft insulation is a requirement to get the grant, but this will no longer be necessary starting May.
The scheme received 2,138 applications in March 2024, which is a considerable rise from the 1,466 applications in March 2023.
Daniel Särefjord, CEO of Aira UK, a heat pump company, remarks: “The heat pump sector has rapidly become one of the nation’s most swiftly expanding industries, currently providing jobs for almost 5,000 people. This growth is strongly supporting the switch to electric heating and reducing carbon emissions in UK homes.
“The sector is dedicated to aiding homeowners to lower their heating expenses, diminish CO2 emissions, and enhance air quality across communities by encouraging the change from harmful gas or oil boilers to cleaner alternatives.
“With the upcoming relaxation of the insulation requirements in May, we’re anticipating an even higher interest in the government’s boiler scrappage grants in the next few months.
“This change will likely decrease the cost of installing a heat pump by around £2,500 under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which will enable families to decide the best time to enhance their home insulation, making the option of owning a heat pump more economical.”
