Ofgem updated the Product Eligibility List (PEL) for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on 21 May 2026, publishing the latest version of the list that identifies products meeting the MCS standards required by the scheme1. The PEL is described by Ofgem as "an administrative tool that makes it easier to identify products that could be eligible for the BUS"1.
All products on the list are extracted from the MCS certified product directory, where they also meet the MCS standards required by the scheme, which are approved by the Secretary of State under the BUS regulations1. For biomass boilers, listing also requires an eligible emissions certificate meeting the scheme's air quality requirements1.
Ofgem states that the PEL only identifies products meeting the MCS standards, and does not confirm compliance with the other eligibility requirements under the scheme, including technology specific technical requirements1. The list does not consider the SCOP of heat pumps, which Ofgem says installers need to calculate separately1. Ofgem also states the list is not exhaustive, and that some products on the MCS certified product directory may meet the requirements for the scheme without appearing on the PEL1.
"Installers are responsible for making sure installations meet these eligibility requirements and must not rely on the PEL alone"
Ofgem adds that a product can appear on the list through meeting the MCS standards requirement but still be ineligible for the scheme for a different reason, in which case it will reject the application1. Where MCS standards approved by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been updated, the standards in force at the time of commissioning are used to assess eligibility1. For MCS certified biomass boilers missing an emissions certificate, an eligible certificate must be submitted as part of voucher redemption, after which Ofgem will update the list if satisfied the requirements are met1.
Why it matters for households
The PEL sits behind the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which pays grants towards heat pumps and biomass boilers. A product's presence on the list is one signal that it meets the scheme's MCS standards, but it is not a guarantee of a grant. Households weighing up a heat pump or biomass installation still depend on the wider eligibility rules, including the property's existing heating, insulation and EPC position, and on the installer confirming the installation meets every requirement. The list's exclusion of SCOP means efficiency performance is assessed separately from product listing. Because the list is not exhaustive, a product absent from it is not automatically barred from the scheme. The update itself changes which products appear on the list; the source does not report which products were added or removed.
What happens next
Ofgem's update log records a further revision on 23 July 2026, described as updated with the latest version of the Product Eligibility List1. No other dated steps are given in the source.
Sources1 cited
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Product Eligibility List | Ofgem, ofgem.gov.uk