Heat Pumps

Air source heat pump grants: what support is available to upgrade?

Considering switching your boiler for a greener heating solution? You might be able to access financial support. Here’s a look at your options.

15 September 20226 mins

Are you considering switching your boiler for an air source heat pump? If so, you might’ve been tempted by the government grants available, but it’s important to understand the requirements and what’s involved in the process.

Even though air source heat pump grants in 2022 won’t cover the total cost, installing one could still help you save money on your household energy bills – making them a great long-term investment. In this guide, we’ll explain the various different grants available for getting an air source heat pump installed for your household.

Which air source heat pump grants are available in 2022?

England: Boiler Upgrade Scheme

With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you’ll be able to get some money off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump. To be eligible for this scheme, you only need to live in either England or Wales and own a property, whether that’s your home or a small, non-domestic property. You’ll also be eligible if you own a second home or you’re a private landlord.

There are also some eligibility requirements concerning the installation capacity of your property – and you’ll need to have a valid energy performance certificate (EPC) too.

However, it’s worth knowing that air source heat pump grants under this scheme aren’t available for new build properties, social housing, or if you’ve already claimed governmental funding on your boiler upgrade.

Warmer Homes Scotland

Through Warmer Homes Scotland, the Scottish government is aiming to make renewable energy more accessible for households struggling to keep on top of their household energy bills. This scheme is available both to private homeowners and to tenants renting in the private sector.

In order to be eligible for Warmer Homes Scotland funding, you must:

Own your home, or be a tenant of a private-sector landlord
Live in the home as your primary residence, and have lived there for at least a year
Prove a low energy rating, subject to assessment
Not have received any Warmer Homes Scotland funding in the last five years
Live in a home that meets living standards as defined in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

The improvements offered to households under Warmer Homes Scotland are made on a case-by-case basis, so you might not necessarily be offered a grant for an air source heat pump. However, if the surveyor deems it appropriate for your household, installing an air source heat pump might be considered over alternative options like wall insulation, loft insulation, and draught-proofing.

You could get up to £5,000 towards the overall cost with this generous air source heat pump grant for 2022.

If you don’t meet the criteria for this scheme, you might still be eligible for assistance through either an area-based scheme or an interest-free loan scheme.

Wales: Nest Scheme

The Nest Scheme is a large part of the Welsh Government Warm Homes initiative and supports commitments to reduce climate change and encourage economic redevelopment in Wales as well as help ease and eradicate fuel poverty.

If your home is hard to heat, this scheme offers free advice or upgrades like a new boiler, central heating, or insulation to help improve the efficiency of your house and to keep you warmer, too. You’ll be eligible for Nest Scheme air source heat pumps grants if you meet the following three conditions:

You privately rent or own your home
Your home is already energy inefficient and expensive to heat
You or a member of your family has a chronic circulatory, respiratory, or mental health condition and a low income, or receives a means-tested benefit

Which air source heat pump grants were available previously?

Air source heat pump grants in 2020 and 2021 varied slightly to the ones on offer in 2022 and beyond, so it’s worth knowing the difference to make sure you’re only learning about current schemes. If you need to understand more about domestic solutions to cutting greenhouse emissions, it’s always worth seeking advice from the green home experts.

The Green Homes Grant voucher scheme first launched in October 2020 and continued until March 2021, offering vouchers of either £5,000 or £10,000 towards the cost of supplying and installing an air source heat pump. The scheme was only available in England, and the amount given varied depending on personal financial circumstances.

Air source heat pump government grants in 2021 also included the now-defunct Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which allowed homeowners and landlords to claim for biomass boilers, certain types of heat pump and solar water-heating solutions. Payments were made over the course of seven years, based on the potential amount of renewable heat generated.

Why is the government subsidising air source heat pumps?

There are two main reasons why governments are offering grants for air source heat pumps across the UK. The first one revolves around the global pressure for individual countries to meet their commitments to net zero emissions targets, as agreed after the adoption of the Paris Agreement. The long-term conditions of the agreement tie all participating nations into a legally binding contract, so commitments must be backed by action.

The government knows that improving the efficiency of individual homes within communities will help lower overall nationwide emissions, especially in cases where older, inefficient boilers have been replaced.

Secondly, funding for air source heat pumps has been introduced by the government partially as a response to fuel poverty in the UK.

Household energy bills increased by a record-breaking 54% in April 2022 alone, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that families in the UK will continue to struggle to pay bills. Equipping homes across the UK with air source heat pumps marks an ongoing investment in steadily improving our environmental infrastructure.

Create your energy-efficient home with Energy Efficiency

If you’re almost ready to make the next step towards installing an air source heat pump but you’d like a little bit of guidance first, we can help. Our team of energy experts have been helping homeowners find the most efficient solutions for over a decade, and we’ll happily offer tailored advice to help you transform your home.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like some help breaking down the jargon. It’s equally important to know what you’ll be getting out of your new air source heat pump as it is to understand the terms and conditions of your chosen air source heat pump grant.