Energy Systems Catapult welcomes the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The Catapult’s response was drafted by Fay Holland, Senior Energy Policy Advisor and Katrina Young, Practice Manager – Heat and Local Energy Policy. The response was submitted to government on Thursday 12 October 2023.

Key points:

• We encourage the government to take an outcome focused, technology agnostic approach to decarbonising domestic heating.
• The proposal to enable the government to differentiate grant levels for different types of property or property owners is sensible as it would allow the scheme to be adjusted to changes in the heat pump market as it develops.
• Encouraging property owners to invest in insulation is important, but on balance we agree that the requirement not to have outstanding EPC recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation could be removed without risking the installed heat pumps being ineffective.