The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been extended to 2028, according to MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, in a press release published on 21 July 20231. The extension was cited by MCS chief executive Ian Rippin as a reason for growing demand for low-carbon heating, in a release otherwise given over to installation statistics for the UK's four home nations1.
The same release reports that Wales recorded the highest uptake of small-scale renewable installations in the UK in April 2023, overtaking Scotland for the first time since 20211. By the end of April 2023, all-time installation volumes reached 178,758 for Scotland and 97,537 for Wales1. MCS notes that Scotland has roughly double the number of households as Wales, so although Wales has a smaller total installation count, a higher proportion of its homes have installations1.
Using housing data from the Office for National Statistics to compare uptake, MCS gives the following figures by nation1:
| Nation | All-time installations | Share of homes with installations |
|---|---|---|
| Wales | 97,537 | 7.24% |
| Scotland | 178,758 | 7.23% |
| England | 1,261,503 | 5.52% |
| Northern Ireland | 31,421 | 4.19% |
Rippin said the figures showed more Welsh homeowners were looking to decarbonise their homes, and pointed to heat pumps as well as solar. Solar PV remains the most popular technology type in Wales and across the UK, the release states1.
"Solar PV continues to be the most popular technology type in Wales and across the UK, but heat pump installers are also seeing further uptake each month, and demand is gaining momentum for low-carbon heating, especially since the Boiler Upgrade Scheme was extended to 2028."
The release also describes a Llandudno-based installer, Chris Allen Heating Limited, which moved into small-scale renewables after more than 35 years installing traditional heating and electrical technologies, and became MCS certified for solar PV1. It cites one Anglesey householder, a primary school teacher, who had solar panels fitted in 2021 and qualified for free fitting under the Welsh Government's Arbed am Byth scheme1.
Why it matters for households
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the main grant route for households replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler, so the length of its funding window affects how far ahead a home can plan a change of heating system. An extension to 2028 means the scheme is not closing on the near horizon, which matters for homes weighing up whether to act now or wait, and for anyone whose boiler or heating system is approaching the end of its life. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is administered separately from the Welsh schemes mentioned in the release, and the release does not set out grant amounts, eligibility rules or application steps. Those are covered in the site's pages on how much the grant is and how the application works.
The installation figures point to a wider pattern: uptake of home renewables is uneven across the UK, and the release attributes Wales's position to household investment during the cost-of-living crisis rather than to any single policy1. For a household, the practical question is less about league tables than about what is installed on the property, how it is certified, and whether the work is recorded. MCS states that every certified installation is recorded in the MCS Installations Database, and that its Data Dashboard is updated every 24 hours1.
What happens next
The release gives no further dated steps. It does not state the mechanism, funding total or end date of the extension beyond the year 2028, and no confirmation from the scheme administrator is quoted1.
Sources1 cited
- Wales leads the way for renewable energy and heating in the UK - MCS, mcscertified.com