£2,500 boost to Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant

Homeowners across Sussex and Kent will welcome the announcement by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to boost the value of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grants for air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GSHP).

The grant for air source heat pumps will increase from £5,000 to £7,500. The value of the grant for ground source heat pumps will increase to £7,500 from the current £6,000. The grant for biomass boilers will remain the same at £5,000.

The announcement, which will be a boost to homeowners in Kent and Sussex considering the installation of a renewable energy system to replace their fossil fuel boiler.

The anoouncement was made yesterday, Wednesday, 20th September. Details of when the changes will come in to affect will be announced later.

The Chief Executive of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Ian Rippen said: "MCS welcomes the Government announcement today that Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant values will be increased to £7,500.

"Making it easier and more affordable for the average consumer to transition to low-carbon heating is vital if we are to reach our national decarbonisation goals.

“More people will now have the confidence and ability to invest in low-carbon heating and this is an important step forward towards net zero.”

“However, it is disappointing to see a delay in the deadline to phase out new gas boilers by 2035. The most important element of helping consumers make the right, informed, green choice is clarity and moving the goalposts now risks confusing home and business owners about what the right thing to do is.”

The announcement on the boost to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants for air source and ground source heat pumps was part of a wider announcement on the UK’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050.

However, instead of announcing an ambitious agenda on how to help businesses and households alike take steps towards reducing their emissions, some key policies were watered down.

The ban on petrol and diesel cars was moved from 2030 to 2035.

There are no longer requirements to replace gas boilers with heat pumps until 2035.

Landlords do no longer need to make energy efficiencyimprovements to their properties.

Any plans for influencing our diets or increasing taxes on flying were scrapped. 

While some politicians and commentators welcomed the announcement many felt that watering down our legally-binding commitments to achieve Net Zero was a backward step, meaning tougher decisions in the years ahead.

Dr Matthew Lockwood, Senior Lecturer in Energy Policy at the University of Sussex Business School said: "Environmentally, this announcement is foolhardy. It delays action when urgency is paramount. And with over a quarter of the UK’s emissions coming from car use and home heating, the effect will be significant. 

“Economically, these steps won’t help hard-pressed households now. They will have a hugely disruptive effect on investment and jobs in new green sectors and will extend our reliance on the volatile pricesof oil and gas.”

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