Northern Ireland’s heat pump grant is separate from Great Britain’s scheme
If you live in Northern Ireland and are looking into heat pump grants, you need to know that the rules are different from those in England, Wales, and Scotland. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) in England and Wales offers £7,500 for air source heat pumps, but it does not apply to Northern Ireland (GOV.UK, 2026).
The NI Heat Pump Grant offers up to £7,500 for air source heat pumps in 2026, separate from Great Britain's scheme. Owner-occupiers with a valid EPC can apply through the Department for the Economy.
- NI Heat Pump Grant offers up to £7,500 for air source heat pumps.
- The grant is separate from Great Britain's Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
- Eligible for owner-occupiers with a valid EPC and no insulation recommendations.
- Off-gas grid properties capped at £4,000 grant amount.
- Apply through the Department for the Economy or NIHE.
- Northern Ireland’s heat pump grant is separate from Great Britain’s scheme
- The NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 offers up to £7,500 for air source heat pumps
- Quick numbers NI Heat Pump Grant vs Great Britain’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- You must use an MCS-certified installer to qualify for the grant
- The grant is means-tested for households on certain benefits
- The featured-snippet answer The heat pump grant in Northern Ireland is £7,500 for air source heat pumps in 2026
- You must meet EPC and property eligibility rules to claim the grant
Northern Ireland has its own grant framework, administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and the Department for the Economy (DfE). As of 2026, the main grant is the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for domestic heat pumps, though it closed to new applicants in March 2022 for most technologies (GOV.UK, 2026). A replacement scheme, called the NI Heat Pump Grant, was announced in late 2025 and launched in early 2026, offering up to £7,500 for air source heat pumps (Department for the Economy, 2026).
The NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 offers up to £7,500 for air source heat pumps
The NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 covers the cost of an MCS-certified air source heat pump installation, including eligible ancillary works such as new radiators or hot water cylinders. The maximum grant is £7,500 per household, with a lower cap of £4,000 for properties that are not off-gas grid (Department for the Economy, 2026).
Eligibility requires the property to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation. The grant is available to owner-occupiers only. Landlords and social housing tenants are not eligible (Department for the Economy, 2026).
Quick numbers NI Heat Pump Grant vs Great Britain’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme
| Scheme name | Grant amount (air source) | Grant amount (ground source) | Eligibility cap | Off-gas grid supplement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 | £7,500 | £7,500 | £7,500 max | £4,000 cap for off-gas grid |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England & Wales) | £7,500 | £7,500 | £7,500 max | No separate cap |
| Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan + Grant | up to £7,500 grant + interest-free loan | up to £7,500 grant + loan | No cap | No separate cap |
Sources: Department for the Economy, 2026; Ofgem, 2026; Energy Saving Trust, 2026.
You must use an MCS-certified installer to qualify for the grant
The NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 requires the heat pump to be installed by a company registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). MCS certification ensures the installer meets industry standards for design, installation, and commissioning (MCS, 2026).
The installer must also be registered with TrustMark for consumer protection. You can check an installer’s MCS certification on the MCS website’s “Find a Contractor” tool (MCS, 2026). Using an uncertified installer means you will not receive the grant, and the installation may not comply with building regulations.
The grant is means-tested for households on certain benefits
The NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 includes a means-tested element. Households receiving certain benefits such as Pension Credit, Income Support, or Universal Credit may qualify for a higher grant of up to £10,000 (Department for the Economy, 2026).
The standard grant of £7,500 is available to all owner-occupiers, regardless of income. Landlords and social housing tenants are not eligible for the grant (Department for the Economy, 2026). how to check if you qualify for means-tested benefits
The featured-snippet answer The heat pump grant in Northern Ireland is £7,500 for air source heat pumps in 2026
The NI Heat Pump Grant 2026 provides up to £7,500 for installing an MCS-certified air source heat pump, with a lower cap of £4,000 for off-gas grid properties (Department for the Economy, 2026). The grant is administered by the Department for the Economy and is separate from Great Britain’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Eligibility requires an EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations, and the installer must be MCS-certified.
You must meet EPC and property eligibility rules to claim the grant
The property must have a valid EPC dated within the last 10 years. The EPC must show that loft and cavity wall insulation are already installed, or the grant will not be paid (Department for the Economy, 2026).
The property must be an existing home, not a new build, and must be your main residence. If you are unsure whether your EPC meets the requirements, you can check your certificate on the NI EPC register (GOV.UK, 2026). how to improve your EPC rating before applying for a heat pump grant
Frequently Asked Questions
The NI Heat Pump Grant offers up to £7,500 for air source heat pumps in 2026, according to the Department for the Economy. Off-gas grid properties have a lower cap of £4,000.
Only owner-occupiers are eligible for the NI Heat Pump Grant. The property must have a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations, per the Department for the Economy.
No, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) for England and Wales does not apply to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has its own grant framework, including the NI Heat Pump Grant (GOV.UK, 2026).
Applications for the NI Heat Pump Grant are managed by the Department for the Economy (DfE) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). Check the DfE website for the latest application process.
The grant covers MCS-certified air source heat pump installation, including eligible ancillary works like new radiators or hot water cylinders (Department for the Economy, 2026).
