Proactive Investors - Grants aimed at encouraging the uptake of heat pumps in England and Wales have been boosted by 50%, the government has announced.
Households are now being offered up to £7,500 by the government towards the cost of new air source heat pumps under the boiler upgrade scheme, a Monday statement said.
This comes after the previous grants of up to £5,000 failed to encourage mass uptake of the technology, which can be more environmentally friendly than alternative gas-burning boilers.
By compressing air taken from outdoors and circulating it through homes, heat pumps use electricity to provide warmth rather than by burning gas, meaning they can be greener if using cleaner energy.
Heat pumps are seen as key in aiding the phase-out of gas boilers in the UK by 2035, though plans to target installation of 600,000 units a year come 2028 has faced scrutiny.
According to the National Infrastructure Commission, high upfront costs of buying and installing heat pumps have put people off, alongside a lack of clear information.
Given an estimated eight million buildings will need to make the switch by 2035 for the UK to hit its 2050 net zero target, the commission recommended last week that more be offered under the scheme.
“No one should have to choose between cutting costs and cutting emissions,” energy secretary Claire Coutinho said.
“We can continue to deliver on our ambitious net zero targets without unfairly hitting the pockets of hardworking families.”