As we all know, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a fantastic government initiative designed to help homeowners in England and Wales make the switch to eco-friendly heating systems. With grants of up to £7,500, it's a real game-changer when it comes to installing heat pumps!
Sales of heat pumps in the UK have reached record levels in 2024, with factory gate data from the Heat Pump Association (HPA) showing a 63% increase compared to 2023. A total of 98,468 heat pumps were sold, marking a significant step towards decarbonising home heating.
Heat pump installations in the UK have already exceeded last year’s total, setting a new milestone for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) with three months still to go in 2024. By the end of September, 42,000 installations were completed—outpacing 2023's total by approximately 4%.
The UK government is launching the Warm Homes Grant in 2025, an exciting initiative aimed at helping homeowners make their properties more energy-efficient. This fully funded scheme is available to those who meet certain criteria and could significantly reduce your energy costs while lowering your home's carbon footprint.
This week, the UK's last coal power station closed, signalling that the country’s energy landscape is undergoing a massive transformation. For over 200 years, coal was king, powering industry and homes alike. But today, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydro are rapidly replacing fossil fuels in the national grid. With that change comes a new challenge—and opportunity—for those of us in the heating and plumbing industry.
As we all know, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a fantastic government initiative designed to help homeowners in England and Wales make the switch to eco-friendly heating systems. With grants of up to £7,500, it's a real game-changer when it comes to installing heat pumps!
With the UK election out the way and a new government in place, we feel it’s important to explore the potential implications for the heat pump market now that Labour has taken the helm. For plumbers, particularly those considering diversifying into heat pump installations, Labour's anticipated measures could present significant opportunities in the evolving green energy sector.
The UK remains overly dependent on natural gas, according to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), which provides independent recommendations to the government.
In its recent annual assessment, the NIC highlights the urgent need to reduce reliance on high-cost, high-carbon natural gas and accelerate the adoption of heat pump technology to meet the ambitious net zero targets by 2050. According to the Commission, decarbonising buildings is a critical aspect of this transition and represents the single biggest challenge on the path to net zero.
Last month, the UK government unveiled changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, making it easier for households to install eco-friendly heating solutions like heat pumps. The update involves the removal of insulation prerequisites for heat pump grants, a move designed to simplify installations and reduce costs for households.
Join us from October 4th to 8th as Alto Energy exhibits at Grand Designs Live, held at the NEC in Birmingham! We’ll be exhibiting at stand Z62, where you can discover more about our range of products and services, including air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and our range of underfloor heating.
Yesterday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a raft of policy changes regarding the UK’s approach to achieving net zero. The majority of the announcement related to pushing back the timeframes for bans on fossil fuel vehicles and boilers. However, the Prime Minister also announced a very welcome boost to the heat pump sector, with the news that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant will be increasing to £7,500 for all technologies.
We are delighted and encouraged by the government's ongoing commitment to incentivise heat pump adoption. The decision to extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) until 2028 (initially scheduled to end in 2025) represents a welcome step forward by the government. This extension will expedite the shift from conventional fossil fuel boilers to sustainable heating systems.
