More technologies eligible for BUS funding
UK – Changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) mean that air-to-air heat pumps (air conditioning) and exhaust air heat pumps will be eligible for funding from the end of April.
The BUS currently offers grants of £7,500 off the cost of installing an air source or ground source heat pump. From April 28, the scheme has been expanded to offer a £2,500 discount off the cost of installing an air-to-air heat pump in residential properties, providing heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said at the time: “Air-to-air heat pumps offer the best of both worlds – keeping you warm in winter while cooling you down when summer comes along. With heat pumps more popular than ever, we want to make sure as many people as possible can benefit, especially those in flats or small homes without central heating, so they have greater choice when upgrading their property.”
In a further key change, the restriction that heat pumps cannot use heat from air expelled by an appliance will be removed, making exhaust air installations eligible for the same £7,500 funding as air source and ground source systems.
Following consultations during 2025, the Government said in its response: “We recognise that there are now some EAHPs available on the market that are capable of meeting the entire heat demand of a property. Therefore, we intend to remove the current requirement that hydronic heat pumps cannot use heat in air expelled by an appliance or building.
Air-to-air heat pumps offer the best of both worlds – keeping you warm in winter while cooling you down when summer comes along.
Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers
“In order to be eligible to receive a hydronic heat pump grant, an EAHP will need to meet the same eligibility criteria set out for hydronic heat pumps; an EAHP will need to be installed to provide space heating, use liquid as the medium for delivering its heat, and be capable of meeting the full space heat and hot water demand of the property, whether alone or in combination with other appliances that are incapable of burning fossil fuels. EAHPs that only provide hot water will not be eligible for a BUS grant, however they will be eligible to be installed as a supplementary appliance alongside a BUS-eligible technology.”
Properties are no longer required to have a valid energy performance certificate (EPC) to apply for the BUS. Property owners can still obtain an EPC before their installer applies to BUS, but this is no longer a requirement. However, where there is a valid EPC for the property, the certificate number must be provided.
Originally due to end in 2025, then extended to 2028, the latest updates mean the BUS will now run until 2030.
