Budget for the BUS scheme 

 

 

Financial years 2022 to 2025

On 21 November 2024, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced a further £30 million of funding will be made available for the 2024/2025 financial year, increasing the total BUS budget to £180 million. 

In addition, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has also given permission for Ofgem to over-allocate vouchers to a total of £250 million, to provide certainty that vouchers will continue to be available. 

This is part of the government’s Warm Homes Plan, helping people to deliver cleaner heating and save money on their bills. 

 

Financial year 2025 to 2026

On 21 November 2024, the government announced that the budget for 2025/2026 for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will be £295 million. Budgets for subsequent years will be confirmed as part of the second phase of a multi-year Spending Review which will conclude in spring 2025. 

​

WE ARE NOW FULLY TRAINED IN FGAS FOR 2025!!!!!

​

 

 

                                The New R290 Heat Pump (refrigerant gas)

 

 

 

 

 

Here at North coast we have engineers fully trained in this particular refrigerant gas. They are fully competent in installing this more environmentally friendly and sustainable heat pump. At the moment the future for heat pumps is bright, with all the continuous research, watching them evolve is exciting.

​

What is R290?

​

Also known commercially as propane, R290 is a natural refrigerant. Already commonly used in air conditioning units and refrigeration, R290 refrigerant is becoming increasingly popular in air source heat pumps, replacing the use of other refrigerants. In a heat pump, R290 is used in the same way that other refrigerants have been used in heat pumps for many years with the refrigerant entering a cycle of liquid and vapour/gaseous states to help transfer the latent heat energy which is present in the outside air into useable energy within a central heating system.

​​

Why should you choose a R290 heat pump?

​

Air source heat pumps are a low carbon form of heating, being able to fulfil the space heating and domestic hot water requirements of homes without being high polluting. Every heat pump uses refrigerant so the use of more environmentally friendly refrigerants will serve to further increase the green credentials of heat pumps. A few years ago, this was seen with the transition from R410a to R32 refrigerant and today, the availability of R290 refrigerant is another step towards making heat pumps even more environmentally friendly.

​

High efficiency heat pumps

​

R290 refrigerant helps an air source heat pump to run at high efficiency levels. The efficiency of a heat pump is measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP). The COP value of a heat pump refers to the ratio of useful heat energy it produces compared to the electrical energy it requires. Meanwhile, the SCOP value takes into account particular heating seasons (average or cold for example) and refers to the heat pump’s performance in specific seasonal conditions. The technical data for the Grant Aerona 290 will be published when the range is officially launched later this year but their ErP energy rating will be A+++ (at 35°C flow temperature).

As with any heat pump, the efficiency of a R290 heat pump will reduce when the outdoor temperatures significantly drop. This is because the heat pump will be working harder to ensure the temperatures inside your home remain at their desired levels even when the conditions outside are very low

​

What are the disadvantages of R290 heat pumps?

​

As a refrigerant, R290 is more flammable than other refrigerants so there are specific safety measures which must be adhered to, ensuring their safe installation. It is therefore important that R290 heat pumps are installed by competent, trained heat pumps  engineers who are confident in correctly working with such refrigerant.

R290 heat pumps tend to be larger units compared to heat pumps with the same heating output using alternative refrigerants. This means they do take up more outdoor space which could be an issue for properties with limited outside space..

​

​

​​

​

​