The £7,500 heat pump grant has been available in England and Wales since 2022. Scotland added its own top-up. Northern Ireland, however, remained a blank spot on the map, until now. The BBC reports that green heating grants will finally be available in Northern Ireland from 2026, as reported by BBC News. The delay means homeowners in the province have been paying for oil or gas while their neighbours across the Irish Sea got subsidies. That gap is closing, but slowly.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
Northern Ireland’s scheme will target households off the gas grid, which covers about two-thirds of homes in the region. Eligibility details remain vague: the BBC cites officials saying the programme will open “next year,” but no exact date or budget has been confirmed. By contrast, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales has already processed over 50,000 applications, according to Ofgem’s latest data. The catch is that the UK scheme excludes Northern Ireland entirely, leaving a patchwork of support. Households in rural areas, where oil heating is common and expensive, have been hardest hit.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
A typical 3-bed semi in Northern Ireland using 18,000 kWh of oil per year spends roughly £1,500 annually on heating at current prices. Switching to an air-source heat pump could cut that to around £900, assuming a coefficient of performance of 3.0 and electricity at 27p/kWh. The upfront cost of a heat pump installation is typically £7,000–£13,000, meaning the grant, likely to mirror the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, would cover most or all of the cost for many homes. But without the grant, the payback period stretches to 10–15 years. That is why the delay matters: every year without a grant is a year of higher bills for 400,000 off-grid homes.
The UK-wide picture: slow but moving
Across the UK, heat pump installations rose 42% in 2024, but from a low base. The Climate Change Committee says the UK needs 600,000 installations per year by 2028 to meet net-zero targets. Current rates are around 60,000. The gap is due to both grants and installer capacity, with waiting lists of 6–12 months in some regions. Homeowners should book now, even if the grant isn’t confirmed, because many installers offer a refund if the grant later comes through. Also, improving the building fabric first, loft insulation, cavity wall fill, double glazing, can cut heat pump running costs by up to 30%, according to the Energy Saving Trust. A grant for the heat pump alone is not enough if the house leaks heat.
What to do and by when
If you live in Northern Ireland and are off the gas grid, register your interest with the Department for the Economy now. The scheme is expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026, but first-come-first-served funding may run out quickly. For homeowners elsewhere in the UK, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is open now and runs until at least 2028. Check your EPC rating: a heat pump works best in homes rated C or above. If your rating is lower, prioritise insulation upgrades first. The grant covers the heat pump, but not the fabric work. Plan your timeline: book an installer today for a spring 2026 installation, and you will likely hit the window when Northern Ireland’s grants go live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Officials have not confirmed the exact amount, but it is expected to match the £7,500 offered in England and Wales. The scheme will target off-gas-grid homes, which covers most of the region.
No, grants are only available for installations carried out after the scheme opens. However, some installers offer a guarantee to refund the grant amount if the scheme launches within a certain period. Check terms carefully before proceeding.
