It will now be simpler and more affordable for people to install climate-friendly heat and energy efficiency measures in their homes.
Homeowners can now apply for a standalone grant of £7,500 from the Home Energy Scotland Scheme to install heat pumps.
Previously, applicants were required to sign up for a loan before they qualified for this funding, but they can now access the money directly. The new approach is designed to offer greater flexibility for those looking to make their homes more climate friendly.
The enhanced measures will also include an extra £1,500 to homeowners in rural areas, in line with a commitment made as part of the Bute House Agreement. A standalone grant of £7,500 for energy efficiency improvements to homes will also be made available.
Changes to the scheme involve:
- Grant funding for heat pumps up to £7,500. The remainder of funding requested can be taken up as an optional interest-free loan.
- Grant funding for energy efficiency improvements – up to 75% of the combined cost of the improvements and up to the maximum grant amount of £7,500.
- A rural uplift of £1,500 to both the heat pump and energy efficiency grants. This uplift increases the heat pump grant flat rate and the maximum limit of the energy efficiency grant to £9,000.
- Packages of measures to support the uptake of complimentary measures that offer substantial improvement to energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation of households.
If you undertake installation work in Scotland, there has never been a better time to get into renewables, allowing your business to take advantage of the demand from consumers wishing to use the grant funding. Installers must be MCS registered to participate in the programme and OFTEC can help extend scope of registration into renewables under our accredited scheme.
Technicians can also receive help with the cost of joining the MCS registration scheme via the Scottish Energy Saving Trust – visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk for details.
