The Government has announced the expansion of Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), now to include Air-to-Air Heat Pumps and Heat Batteries.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) has been expanded to include air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries. Through the broadened scheme, £2,500 is available to support the installation of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps – a technology which can provide both heating and cooling. The installation of Heat Batteries will also benefit from a similar level of funding.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, part of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, continues to see both Air Source Heat Pumps and Ground Source Heat Pumps enjoy a £7,500 grant.
Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: “Air-to-air heat pumps offer the best of both worlds – keeping you warm in winter while cooling you down when summer comes along.
“With heat pumps more popular than ever, we want to make sure as many people as possible can benefit, especially those in flats or small homes without central heating, so they have greater choice when upgrading their property.”
Vital role
Commenting on the move, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association said: “The Heat Pump Association welcomes today’s announcement to expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries. Since its launch, the BUS has played a vital role in accelerating the transition to low-carbon heating, giving thousands of households access to clean, efficient technologies and helping to build the UK supply chain.”
Paul Smith, MD at NIBE Energy Systems Limited commented: “One of the most significant changes for our industry is the decision to include Exhaust Air Heat Pumps (EAHPs) within BUS eligibility. EAHPs are a highly efficient solution for many modern homes, particularly apartments and new builds, where their ability to recover waste heat and provide consistent, reliable heating and hot water makes them extremely effective. Their inclusion under the full hydronic heat pump grant of £7,500 is a positive and forward-thinking step that will give homeowners and developers another robust option in the move towards electrification.”
Iain Bevan, Daikin’s Residential New Business Director commented: “The inclusion of air-to-air heat pumps in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is great news for the industry and householders. The inclusion of air-to-air units is a clear recognition of the important role that this technology has in the UK’s decarbonisation journey.”
Heat batteries
Leading heat battery manufacturer, tepeo has welcomed the announcement that heat batteries will become included in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, enabling households to access a £2,500 subsidy towards installation.
“Millions of homes in the UK are not suitable for heat pumps,” said Johan du Plessis, CEO of tepeo. “We have always believed that a one size fits all approach does not work and by including heat batteries in the subsidy scheme, the government has acknowledged the need for practical solutions that make decarbonising home heating achievable for everyone. We look forward to continuing working closely with policymakers, installers, and energy suppliers to unlock the full potential of heat batteries as part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.”
tepeo’s ZEB heat battery allows homes to electrify heating using off-peak electricity. It stores energy as heat, to be used on demand. The company says the ZEB can have similar running costs to a gas boiler or heat pump.
Main Image: tepeo’s ZEB Heat battery
