NAPIT has welcomed the government’s consultation on the new Clean Heat Grant Scheme (CHGS), which is set to replace the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme in time.
The CHGS is proposed to start in April 2022, lasting for two years, and is consulting on offering £4,000 grants to businesses and domestic properties that install low carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps and biomass boilers in limited circumstances. The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is proposing a voucher system being introduced, and the grants will be issued on a first come, first served basis within quarterly grant windows – to help guarantee that budget caps are not surpassed. Indicative industry figures suggest it will support the installation of around 11,000 heat pumps per year, for two years.
NAPIT’s Chief Operating Officer, David Cowburn, commented: “The consultation detailing the new Clean Heat Grant Scheme is very much-welcomed and has provided us with some much-needed clarification regarding the Government’s commitment towards the low carbon heating industry. We see ourselves in unprecedented times right now and it’s great to have initiatives like this to provide reassurance to our Microgeneration Certification Scheme registered installers regarding the longevity of their business as they return to work. Although this is a welcome initiative, we a somewhat disappointed by the lack of ambition when compared to the scale of installations considered necessary to ensure compliance with the new legislation committing the UK to a legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050.”
The CHGS’s aim is to encourage home and business owners to install low carbon heating technology in their properties by reducing the often-costly upfront fees. Moving forward, NAPIT hopes this grant scheme will boost consumer confidence in low carbon heating technology and provide growth in this area.
The Clean Heat Grant consultation closes today (7th July 2020). Read the latest on the consultation process
