The Clean Heat Grant Scheme (CHGS) is the Government's proposal aimed to decarbonise the UK heating market and would commence from 2022 when the RHI tariff scheme comes to an end.

This scheme is offering upfront funding of up to £4000 in the form of vouchers for each household or business purchasing renewable heating technologies such as air, ground and water-source heat pumps. Funding has been committed for two years to March 2024, after which the scheme will close to new applicants.

Hybrid systems such as hybrid heat pumps will not be supported. Process heating, biogas combustion, solar thermal and heat networks have all been excluded.

For consumers to qualify for a grant they will have to choose an MCS certified installer.

MCS formed the Low Carbon Heat Task Force having members from several industry experts including MCS certified Installers like Ecolution, who will explore the key themes of the consultation and the impact on technologies including heat pumps, solar thermal and biomass making sure that they will provide their invaluable expertise in order to ensure that changes to the policy are supportive to the future market growth.

Systems with a capacity of up to 45kW will be eligible for the scheme and high and low-temperature systems.

BEIS proposes that the process should be installer-led, with proof of installation provided by the installer and the grant paid directly to the installer post-installation.

How swiftly will the grants be paid and how the installers will be affected? Will this new scheme be enough to stimulate the growth needed in the market? Will it reach the consumers who could benefit the most from the installation of a renewable technology?

The ‘Future support for low carbon heat’ consultation closes on July 7. The consultation documents are available here.