The MCS Foundation has welcomed Government plans to compel boiler manufacturers to transition their businesses to sell more heat pumps, and to expand grant schemes for homeowners replacing fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps. 

The Government has today announced that from April 2025 boiler manufacturers will be obliged to sell an increasing proportion of heat pumps relative to their boiler sales.  

Reacting to the confirmation of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, David Cowdrey, Acting Chief Executive of The MCS Foundation, said: “The Clean Heat Market Mechanism sends a clear signal to the heating industry that decarbonisation with heat pumps is the direction of travel. This is welcome news, especially given that certainty is needed for the small-scale renewables sector to continue to grow.  

The Government has also announced additional funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for next year. 

David Cowdrey added, “The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been a key driver of the rise in heat pump uptake since 2022. The expansion of this key grant scheme is very welcome news and will help take the UK towards the target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year.  

“To maximise the Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s potential, it should be accompanied by a public communications campaign to support homeowners on their heat pump journey.  

“Measures to reduce electricity prices also remain critical to the expansion of clean heating.” 

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Notes to editors 

The Government’s announcement is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/help-to-save-households-money-and-deliver-cleaner-heat-to-homes

A recent report by The MCS Foundation’s called for greater policy certainty for the heat pump sector, including increased financial incentives and removal of planning barriers.

About the MCS Foundation 

The MCS Foundation’s mission is to decarbonise homes, heat and energy. We were founded to oversee the MCS standards scheme which is run for public benefit and certifies the quality of renewables and their installation across UK homes. In addition, we support and develop programmes to address critical issues like retrofitting UK homes at scale, expanding the skills-base the sector needs, and commissioning independent research that informs and shapes better decision making to drive a carbon free future for all UK homes. For more information: https://mcsfoundation.org.uk/