BOILERS, PUMPS & VALVES
HEAT PUMPS AND BEYOND: EVOL SCHEME FOR BRITAIN’S NET ZERO
T
he UK’s commitment to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 has put home heating systems firmly in the spotlight. With domestic heating accounting for approximately 18% of the UK’s total emissions, transitioning away from traditional gas boilers to low-carbon alternatives has become a critical focus of Government policy. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) helps home and small business owners take a step forward on their journey, offering financial support that makes the eco-switch more affordable and therefore more accessible.
UNDERSTANDING THE BOILER UPGRADE SCHEME
Launched to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon heating systems, the BUS provides up to £7500 for homeowners and small businesses in England and Wales to subsidise the cost of installation for new heat pumps and biomass boilers. The funding is designed to cover a large proportion of the upfront installation costs associated with these technologies, making it an attractive alternative to a gas boiler for homeowners. Over the last 12 months the government
committed £189m to the scheme, up from its £50m in 2022 when it first began. The rising budget has increased in line with growing demand, and the next 12 months look set to see further investment to continue this momentum. March 2025 marked a significant milestone for the scheme, recording its highest-ever number of applications and surpassing 4,000 for the first time.
THE BENEFITS BEYOND THE GRANT While the financial assistance is significant, the advantages of transitioning to low-carbon heating extend far beyond the initial installation support. Modern heat pump systems operate with
remarkable efficiency, typically up to four times as efficient as a gas boiler. For homeowners, this efficiency translates directly into savings on monthly bills. The environmental impact is equally significant. Early data reveals that heat pumps installed under the BUS program prevented approximately 17,000 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere in the first year of the scheme. That’s equivalent to the emissions generated from around 55,000 transatlantic flights between London and New York. Low carbon heating technologies have also been shown to benefit property values, often driving up house prices. A report shared by Oxford Economics last year showed that environmentally conscious buyers are increasingly willing to pay more (+3.4%) for properties that already have these systems installed, viewing them as both a lifestyle choice and a long-term investment. Perhaps most importantly though, transitioning
to low-carbon heating is a forward-thinking decision. As the UK progresses toward its Net
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The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) was launched to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon heating systems. But what is the BUS? What are the benefits? And how can the adoption of heat pumps be accelerated in the future? Gav Murray,
Hive Heating director at Centrica New Business Net Zero, comments
Modern heat pump systems operate with remarkable efficiency, typically up to four times as efficient as a gas boiler. For homeowners, this efficiency translates directly into savings on monthly bills
Zero commitments, early adopters are effectively future-proofing their homes against upcoming regulatory changes and potential carbon taxation. What seems like a progressive choice today is shaping up to be the standard requirement tomorrow.
ADDRESSING THE ADOPTION CHALLENGE Despite the clear benefits, heat pump adoption in the UK continues to lag behind many of our European neighbours. While the BUS represents a positive step forward, there are several key challenges that must be addressed to accelerate the sustainable heating transition, if we are to reach a level of production and adoption where the BUS can be reduced or removed. Britain’s varied housing stock poses a substantial
challenge. The reality is that not every UK property is currently suitable for standard heat pump technology. Many older buildings, apartment blocks, homes with architectural constraints and poorly insulated buildings, require alternative low-carbon technology. The government’s recent announcement that it is consulting on whether to expand the BUS to also include low-carbon boilers such as air to air heat pumps and heat battery (zero emission) boilers, along with heat pumps, could offer an alternative solution to help households to decarbonise their properties. A skills shortage is another challenge facing the industry. To overcome this challenge, Hive is asking
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2025
for urgent reform of the apprenticeship levy, to enable businesses to upskill their engineers to install heat pumps using existing funding. This will help speed up uptake because the installation services will be there to meet demand and drive forward adoption. Perhaps equally important is the lack of education
around heat pumps and low-carbon heating technology in general. Many homeowners remain unfamiliar with how heat pumps function or the specific benefits they offer. Education efforts targeting both tradespeople and homeowners represent a crucial component in driving up adoption rates. Critically, communication around heat pumps must not only focus on environmental benefits but also tangible advantages to individual households, including comfort, running costs and property value.
THE PATH FORWARD: A HOLISTIC APPROACH To accelerate heat pump adoption and meet climate goals, we need to move beyond viewing these systems as mere boiler replacements and embrace a more comprehensive approach. Integration is key – heat pumps should function as central components in connected home energy systems. Take our recently launched Works With Hive platform, for example, which allows partner devices to be easily controlled through the Hive App as part of the Hive ecosystem.
www.essmag.co.uk
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