Grants and Schemes News: page 12
- June 2024
Cadent Foundation marks five years and publishes 2024 Impact Report
The Cadent Foundation has marked five years with an Impact Report showing over £3.3 million awarded in 2023, support for more than 35,000 people, and plans to double its reach.
Rural uplift of £1,500 introduced for heat pump and energy efficiency grants
Home Energy Scotland has added a £1,500 rural uplift to its heat pump and energy efficiency grants, raising the maximum support for eligible rural and island homes to £9,000.
- May 2024
Boiler Upgrade Scheme marks second anniversary with applications up 93% year-on-year
Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rose 93% in April 2024 compared with April 2023, as the scheme marked its second anniversary with more than £148 million paid out.
Grant categories and grant levels list added for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The government has added a list of approved grant categories and grant levels to its published Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations page, setting out what the Secretary of State has approved under the scheme rules.
HES Grant and Loan Scheme changes approved
The Scottish Government has confirmed that changes to the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, including ending new funding for solar panels and batteries, were approved on 15 May 2024.
EPC insulation recommendation requirement removed
The requirement for homes to have no outstanding loft and cavity wall insulation recommendations on their Energy Performance Certificate before receiving a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant was removed on 8 May 2024.
First Warm Home Prescription trial with an energy supplier launched with ScottishPower
Energy Systems Catapult has launched the first Warm Home Prescription trial run with an energy supplier, with ScottishPower installing efficiency measures at no cost to households through the Energy Company Obligation.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended to April 2028 with additional £1.5 billion
The government has extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to April 2028 and added £1.5 billion of funding over three years, according to Ofgem's annual report on the scheme it replaced.
First phase of Warm Homes, Healthy Futures begins
National Energy Action has begun the first phase of Warm Homes, Healthy Futures, a multi-year fuel poverty and health programme across England, Wales and Scotland, backed by the four gas distribution networks.
- April 2024
BUS regulations amended by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Ofgem's quarterly reports confirm the Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations were amended in May 2024, with the scheme's budget, grant levels and application rules changing repeatedly since.
ECO4 Delivery Guidance version 2.1 published
Ofgem published version 2.1 of its ECO4 Delivery Guidance on 5 April 2024, adding rules on customer contributions, insulation preconditions, electric heating and hybrid heat pumps.
ECO4 Measures Table version 3.0 published
Ofgem has published version 3.0 of the ECO4 Measures Table, adding an electric storage heater row and revising footnotes and eligibility presentation.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications more than doubled year on year after grant increase
Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme more than doubled in April 2024 compared with April 2023, after the grant rose from £5,000 to £7,500, according to figures cited by industry.
Household Support Fund extension began
The Household Support Fund extension to 30 September 2024 began on 1 April 2024, with £421 million allocated to local authorities in England for vulnerable households.
TrustMark notifies DESNZ of suspected fraud under ECO schemes
The National Audit Office reports that TrustMark told DESNZ in April 2024 that some retrofit businesses were suspected of overclaiming for work carried out under the Energy Company Obligation.
Warm Homes advice service full public launch
The Welsh Government has confirmed that a full public Warm Homes advice service will be launched on 1 April 2024, offering impartial advice on using energy more efficiently.
Warm Homes Nest scheme launched
The Welsh Government launched its new demand-led Warm Homes Nest scheme on 1 April 2024, replacing the previous Nest contract, which ran to the end of March 2024.
Wave 2.2 grant funding allocated
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund's Wave 2.2 allocated £75.5 million of grant funding in April 2024, building on £778 million awarded under Wave 2.1 in March 2023.
New Welsh Government Warm Homes programme launched
A new Welsh Government Warm Homes programme began on 1 April 2024, shifting support towards low carbon measures such as heat pumps and solar panels, as Nest published its 2023-24 annual report.
WHAM funding taken over by Wales & West Utilities
The Centre for Sustainable Energy says its WHAM advice service in Bristol, BANES and North Somerset has been funded by Wales & West Utilities since April 2024.
- March 2024
Warm Homes, Healthy Futures national health programme launched by NGN, NEA and UK gas distribution networks
Northern Gas Networks, National Energy Action and the UK's other gas distribution networks have launched a multi-year fuel poverty and health programme, Warm Homes, Healthy Futures, at the House of Lords.
DESNZ announces delay of Clean Heat Market Mechanism and changes to Boiler Upgrade Scheme
DESNZ announced on 14 March 2024 that the Clean Heat Market Mechanism would be delayed to 1 April 2025 and that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme would drop its insulation requirement and accept biomass boilers with integrated cooking functions.
DESNZ announces significant changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, including relaxed insulation rules, new biomass eligibility and tighter commissioning deadlines, in force from 8 May 2024.
DESNZ publishes Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation outcome
DESNZ has set out the outcome of its Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation, keeping the EPC requirement but dropping the rule that loft and cavity wall insulation recommendations must be resolved first.
Government announces changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Clean Heat Market Mechanism
Claire Coutinho has announced changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, including new eligibility for biomass boilers with integrated cooking functions and a higher capacity limit for shared ground loops.
Government removes EPC insulation requirement from Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility
The government has removed the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rule requiring no outstanding loft and cavity wall insulation recommendations on a valid EPC, and has consulted on delaying the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.
Government response to Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations consultation published
The government has confirmed changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules, dropping the EPC insulation recommendation bar and widening eligibility for biomass boilers and shared ground loops.
Nesta publishes report on future subsidies for heat pumps
Nesta has published a report on improving heat pump subsidies and welcomed the removal of an insulation condition from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, while warning that a delay to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism could unsettle the market.
Nesta responds to Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations consultation
Nesta has told a government consultation that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme should keep its EPC requirement but drop the rule barring homes with outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations.
Secretary of State correspondence published on consultation responses
Correspondence dated 14 March 2024 from the Secretary of State covers the Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation response, an addendum to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism response, and the Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency response.