The Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme is celebrating its second anniversary on an all-time high for heat pump installations.  

Government figures show that between January and March 2024, applications were up by 56% on the equivalent time frame in 2023. 

More and more homeowners and small businesses are opting to heat their homes with the cleaner, future-proof, proven technology of a heat pump – the key pathway for homes to get to Net Zero. 

Since its launch in May 2022 the scheme has meant homeowners can claim a grant towards an MCS-certified low carbon heat pump. In 2023 the grant was raised to £7,500 from the initial £5,000. 

MCS figures show that March 2024 was one of the best months on record for certified heat pump installations, with more than 4,500 installed in the month alone. 2023 itself was the best year that MCS has seen for heat pumps, but the first quarter of 2024 saw a 30% rise on this. 

David Cowdrey, Director of External Affairs at the MCS Foundation, said: “The continued rise in households who are switching from gas to zero-carbon heat pumps is very encouraging, and shows that the government grants are working.    

“We need to see a substantial increase in heat pump deployments over the next four years to reach government targets. We’d like to see the government extend public awareness campaigns on the benefits of heat pumps to build on the success of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme so far and help transition the country towards clean, electrified heating systems.”