Households can get a £5,000 grant towards a low-carbon heat pump from next month when a new Government scheme kicks in.
However, the scheme will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and exact start date has not yet been announced.
The grants are part of a £3.9bn Government plan to cut carbon emissions from heating buildings and are limited to the first 90,000 applicants. Around £450m is being allocated for the heat pump subsidies over three years.
Announcing the scheme in October last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “As we clean up the way we heat our homes over the next decade, we are backing our brilliant innovators to make clean technology like heat pumps as cheap to buy and run as gas boilers – supporting thousands of green jobs.
Read more: What exactly is a heat source pump?
“Our new grants will help homeowners make the switch sooner, without costing them extra, so that going green is the better choice when their boiler needs an upgrade.”
However, an air-source heat pump costs between £6,000 and £18,000, and householders will have to make up the difference between the £5,000 grant and the cost of the system.
Environmental experts have said that they were disappointed with the news, saying the gesture goes nowhere near far enough.
Mike Childs, head of science at Friends of the Earth, said the number of heat pumps that the grants would cover meant the UK would not meet its aim of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.
Ministers say the subsidies will make heat pumps a comparable price to a new gas boiler, but Mr Childs pointed out the need for costly new insulation and other home improvements to help households get the best out of the switch and claimed the grants would only incentivise better-off households.
It is estimated that up to 25 million homes in the UK are heated by gas boilers and It is hoped no new gas boilers will be sold after 2035.
While homeowners will be encouraged to switch to a heat pump when their boiler needs replacing, there is no requirement to remove boilers that are still working.
Who is eligible for the grant?
Most homeowners in England and Wales will be able to participate in the scheme. However, it won't be available for those in social housing and new-build properties. The scheme won't be available in Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Who will get £5,000?
Most households that apply will receive a £5,000 grant for an air-sourced heat pump. Britons whose property needs heat pumps where heat is sourced from the ground will receive £6,000 as they are more expensive. This is designed to help cover the cost of everything from the pump to the installation. Other costs, such as having new radiators that work with the heat pumps installed, will also be covered, up to the maximum of £5,000.
How can I apply?
Households don't need to apply for the grant directly. First, people need to engage with a heat pump installer, which will then apply to energy regulator Ofgem for the grant on their behalf.
