• The REA has welcomed today’s announcement to encourage investment into domestic heat pump installation 
• UK deployment rates must be sped up  
• Important to ensure the BUS supports the right low carbon technology for the right situation 

The UK Government announced today that it is almost quadrupling funding available through its Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which provides homes with grants to switch from fossil fuel heating to heat pumps. The extension to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme forms part of a wider £6bn package, announced in the Autumn Statement, to accelerate energy efficiency improvements and electric heating uptake. This package includes finance for businesses and the public sector as well as for homes. 

Mark Sommerfeld, Deputy Director of Policy at the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) said: 

“Additional funding to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is very welcome. Since the grant level was raised earlier this year, as called for by the REA, it is positive that the scheme has become a more attractive offer that actively enables households to invest in heat pumps, helping to decarbonise their properties. This will drive up deployment rates, which remain well behind what is needed to keep the UK aligned to heat decarbonisation targets. 

With this uplift in scheme funding, it is also important that the Government ensures the BUS supports the right low-carbon technology for the right situation. This includes ensuring that the new higher level of grant of £7500 is made available for all technologies in the scheme, such as biomass boilers which have a specific role to play in off-gas grid low energy efficient properties.” 

—ENDS— 

For more information or to request an interview, please contact: 

Rollo Maschietto, Public Affairs Manager: [email protected] | [email protected]