PHAM NEWS | MAY 2026 26 Hybrid HeatingSystems


Making the case for a grant for hybrids


Is it time to introduce a grant for hybrid systems? Martyn Bridges from Worcester Bosch argues that a fi nancial incentive for consumers will help to address the current underspend of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and make a signifi cant diff erence to the government’s ambitions to decarbonise the domestic heating sector.


attention is turning to the uptake of government incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). It appears the BUS budget for last year, some £295 million, wasn’t entirely claimed. There’s been an underspend of £20-25 million. So, whilst the £7,500 grant


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towards heat pump installation is one of the most generous in Europe, it’s still unable to generate the level of consumer demand the government would like to see. What would it take to turn the


tide on BUS uptake? Let’s discuss the outlook for the 2026/27 fi nancial year.


The money available The BUS budget is set to rise to £400 million this fi nancial year. It begs the question: if we can’t spend £295 million, what chance have we of spending £400m? Currently, consumer interest in purchasing a heat pump


Martyn Bridges Director of external affairs at Worcester Bosch


ith government spending constantly under review,


doesn’t look likely to make up the shortfall. It’s an impasse: if a consumer’s boiler fails during the winter months, they’re reluctant to put up with the lack of heating or hot water for weeks – or months – on end while they wait for the necessary approvals to purchase a heat pump installation through the BUS. Instead, they opt for a


straightforward – and fast – boiler replacement. This is the dilemma the


It stands to reason that plenty of consumers would take up the BUS grant if government extended eligibility to hybrids


A space-saving solution for


all types of properties Co-created with installers, the compact Compress 5800i and 7000i Hybrid Heat Pumps from Worcester Bosch have been


designed for fast and simple plug-and-play installation. The system uses Bosch’s intelligent Energy Management System to run the heat pump and boiler in parallel, eff ectively delivering the best of both worlds. Flexible installation options mean that units can be fi tted into a cupboard or onto an outside wall, with no buff er tank or system changes needed. It also means that a heat pump solution can be made available for more property types, making them a viable option for all sizes of property, from the smallest to the largest homes, like period properties – so your customers can lower their carbon footprint, without having to sacrifi ce valuable storage space or lose part of a landing or bedroom.


government faces. The majority of consumers with a ‘no heat’ situation will install a standard gas or oil-fi red boiler, whilst eco-thinking consumers might plan the installation ahead of time or be willing to live without heat and water for a period. There are plenty of consumers who just won’t consider a heat pump.


Low-carbon solution To help solve the challenge, we continue to lobby the government to acknowledge hybrid systems and include them in future funding plans. One of the huge benefi ts of a hybrid system is that it


suits both parties: the boiler component helps restore hot water and heat within days, while the heat pump element is added afterwards. Yet, the government seems


reluctant to acknowledge the benefi ts of hybrid heating systems – much less extend funding to help consumers purchase them – even though a hybrid system can help decarbonise home heating up to 80%.


And while heat pump sales


are still rising, bit by bit, it’s nowhere near the rate that the government’s funding mechanisms prepared for.


Grant support It stands to reason that plenty of consumers would take up the BUS grant if the government extended eligibility to hybrids. That’s particularly true if they have solar panels on their roof, which millions have. These eco-minded consumers could transition so much of their gas usage to electricity for no extra cost. Even if the government


earmarked a smaller £2,500 grant to support hybrids, it could help fund hybrid systems for three properties with the same outlay as part-funding a single heat pump under the BUS.


The HEM problem The government’s reluctance to support hybrids has also permeated into its draft of the Home Energy Model (HEM) proposal. The HEM fi rmly positions


hybrid systems within its Band D classifi cation. This means hybrids will breach the rental sector’s mandate to move home energy effi ciency to Band C from 2030. Any landlord operating a hybrid heating system will be unable to achieve that rating.


One clear issue is the defi nition


of hybrids used by HEM authors. The model’s wording suggests the hybrid’s primary heating source is the boiler, which we know not to be the case. Research by Worcester Bosch and Salford University recently found that the heat pump element contributes up to 100% of the heat load in certain conditions. Even when a property’s


external temperature is set to -2°C, the heat pump can still provide more than 70% of the heat requirement. This makes the heat pump the primary heating source of a hybrid system, which needs due consideration, given the blanket categorisation into Band D.


The BUS route Consumers in 2026 have the choice between a new boiler or a new heat pump. But in the depths of winter, the disruption and delay that accompanies a heat pump installation just won’t fl oat. Other countries already off er


support for hybrids. In Italy, they represent 40% of the heat pump market, and homeowners can recover up to 65% of the installation costs through a tax rebate. But for now, the UK government is holding tight to its ambition to cut fossil fuels out of home heating completely – however unrealistic that might be. Perhaps the year’s underspend


will be a telling sign for the government, as the current grant scheme is still not motivating homeowners to make the change. We will continue to provide


evidence demonstrating how hybrid performance is greatly undervalued, and hopefully, we’ll make inroads towards government support soon. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/526/96


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