What Is Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, in its short version called BUS, is a partial support from the UK government to reduce the reliance on fossil-fuel based heating systems by replacing them with low-carbon and highly-efficient alternatives.
This scheme focuses on domestic and small-scale non-domestic buildings, which account for a huge percentage of the UK’s emissions. This will see the conversion of traditional fossil-fuelled boilers into either biomass boilers or air source heat pumps.
The scheme launched in May 2022. In contrast to the previous schemes, the BUS provides upfront grants to aid with installation expenses. The initiative applies to England and Wales and is operated by Ofgem on behalf of the UK government. Policy and legislation are managed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Applications are made via MCS installers who provide the grant.
This scheme promotes the use of renewable sources of energy to achieve the nation’s net-zero emission target. The government allocated £400 million in April 2026 to fund the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for the year 2026-2027.
Grant for this scheme will assist households and private landlords with their expenses. The highest grant will be £7,500 for air-source and ground-source heat pumps, and £5,000 for biomass boilers. But those properties which are on oil or LPG will receive £9,000.
The scheme can also increase property value and improve home comfort. In fact, the whole society benefits through lower carbon emissions, cleaner energy use, reduced fuel dependency, and growth in the green energy