MCS responds to key changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

15 March 2024

On 14 March 2024, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced some significant changes to UK heating policy, including the delay of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) to 1 April 2025 and changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), allowing more consumers to access the grant.

Ian Rippin, MCS CEO, comments: “Following today’s announcement from Claire Coutinho, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, we broadly welcome the announced changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in particular answering our calls to allow more consumers to take advantage of a broader choice of low carbon heating.

Changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme that mean homeowners will no longer need to install cavity wall or loft insulation to access the grant are certainly a positive development, opening up this crucial incentive to a wider potential audience. Regardless of the heat source, a fabric first approach is always the most sensible solution and something we continue to support. However, if insulation isn’t a pre-requisite for a boiler then it shouldn’t be for a low carbon heating source. We are hopeful this change empowers consumers and helps bolster confidence in proven technologies.

Our MCS Biomass Standard includes biomass boilers with integrated cooking functions and so we are pleased that these are now also eligible under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This change opens up choice to more MCS certified biomass boiler products.

“The MCS certified contractor community continues to grow, with heat pump installations achieving record numbers so far this year, but for the UK to meet its Net Zero commitments, including reaching the government target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, we hope to see increased support for homeowners who are keen to make the switch from gas boilers to low carbon heating.”

View the official statement here.