The Government's Powering Up Britain Energy Security Plan extends the Boiler Upgrade Scheme until 2028, the industry body HIES reported on 13 April 2023. The scheme provides grants of up to £6,000 towards a heat pump for homes in England and Wales1.
HIES, which represents accredited installers, said the extension reflects what its members have been telling it. The body also set out other household-facing measures in the plan, including the Great British Insulation Scheme, previously known as ECO+, which it said is intended to upgrade 300,000 of the country's least energy efficient homes, and a new £30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator1.
"We especially welcome the extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme until 2028"
The extension coincides with an aim to ensure a minimum of 600,000 heat pumps are being installed annually from 2028, according to HIES1. The plan also covers larger infrastructure commitments, among them investment in offshore wind, Great British Nuclear, electric vehicle charging points, the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund for green hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, and round five of investment in renewable electricity1.
| Measure | Detail as reported |
|---|---|
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Extended until 2028; grants of up to £6,000 towards a heat pump for homes in England and Wales1 |
| Great British Insulation Scheme (formerly ECO+) | Upgrade 300,000 of the country's least energy efficient homes1 |
| Heat Pump Investment Accelerator | New £30 million fund1 |
| Heat pump installation aim | Minimum of 600,000 installed annually from 20281 |
The grant amount, eligibility rules and any changes to them have not been reported beyond the figures above. The grant amount and the position for homes that already have a gas boiler are not set out in the announcement, and no detail is given on how the extension interacts with other support such as ECO4.
Why it matters for households
A grant scheme with a confirmed end date gives households a longer window in which to plan a heating change, rather than a deadline that may move. For a home weighing up a heat pump, the £6,000 figure is the headline support, though the net cost after the grant depends on the property and the installer's quote, neither of which is covered in the announcement.
The insulation element matters for the same reason: fabric improvements reduce how much heat a home needs before any change to the heating system, and the plan ties the Great British Insulation Scheme to the least efficient homes1. Together, the measures are framed by HIES as a route to lower household energy bills and greater energy independence, alongside the wider grid and generation commitments in the plan1.
Coverage differs by nation: the grant described applies to England and Wales1. The position for England and Wales is set out in the scheme's own terms, and no equivalent extension for Scotland or Northern Ireland is reported here. Whether social housing or hybrid heat pump installations qualify is likewise not addressed in the announcement.
What happens next
The scheme continues until 20281. The plan sets an aim of a minimum of 600,000 heat pump installations a year from 20281. No further dates, application windows or funding allocations are given in the announcement.
Sources1 cited
- Powering Up Britain Energy Security Plan - HIES, hiesscheme.org.uk