Heat pumps could be cheaper than gas as grants increase 50%

Home and small businesses can get up to £7,500 to install a heat pump, assisting in cutting their energy use and emissions, the government has said.

The news will see the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offering £7,500 towards the cost of a new heat pump, which is a 50% increase in the support available for air source models. Customers do not have to apply for the grants and can check their home is eligible on gov.uk.

The government has also made £10m available through the Heat Pump Ready programme to support innovation in the heat pump sector and launched a new campaign on energy efficiency in the home.

The scheme has also been extended by three years to 2028.

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:   “No one should have to choose between cutting costs and cutting emissions – our pragmatic approach means we can continue to deliver on our ambitious net zero targets without unfairly hitting the pockets of hardworking families. ”

The new energy efficiency campaign will include a range of recommended measures such as checking loft and wall insulation; upgrading to a heat pump; using the bumper grant; and installing solar panels to power a heat pump.

The government is also delaying the ban on installing oil and liquified petroleum gas boilers, and new coal heating, for off-gas-grid homes to 2035, instead of phasing them out from 2026.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:  “Making our housing stock more energy efficient not only furthers our net zero ambitions but enables families to cut their energy use and reduce their bills.”

Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy, said: “We see enormous demand for heat pumps as they’re 3 or 4 times more energy efficient than gas boilers, and with these government grants they’re affordable to install too. Using Octopus’s smart tariffs they’re also cheaper to run.”

Gráinne Regan, Head of Heat, OVO said: “With home heating accounting for 17% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, it’s clear as a nation we need to switch from gas boilers to heat pumps which are more efficient and powered by cleaner electricity.”

Image from Shutterstock

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