Heat pumps eligible for renovation grants from April

Homeowners in ROI will, as of April 2018, qualify for a €3,500 grant to install a heat pump but will no longer be eligible for a grant to replace their fossil fuel boiler.

Grants for heating control upgrades and external wall insulation are also being increased, available from January 15th 2018. These measures introduced by ROI Minister Naughten aim to ensure energy efficiency grants move away from fossil fuels. External wall insulation upgrades will qualify for 33 per cent more funding. Details of the changes are in the table below. The grants are part of the Better Energy Homes scheme and only apply to homes built pre-2011.

		Current grants	From April 2018
Heat pump (air to water, ground source, water source, exhaust air)		–	€3,500
Heat pump (air to air)		–	€600
Heating controls		€600	€700
Boiler upgrade with heating controls		€700	–
External wall insulation	Detached	€4,500	€6,000
	Semi-detached or end of terrace	€3,400	€4,500
	Mid terrace or apartment	€2,250	€2,750

New turf cutters grant As previously covered by Selfbuild, the government is looking at amending the Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme with a view to reducing the need for it. In this context, a new energy efficiency grant is being introduced on a pilot basis offering 50 per cent financial support to families who want to invest in energy efficiency improvements that would bring their home up to a Building Energy Rating of A3. In practical terms, this will mean investing in measures such as external wall insulation, windows, doors and renewable energy heating systems, such as heat pumps.

This new pilot scheme announced by Minister Naughten involves his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht and Bord na Móna.

Six bogs have been identified where all families with rights to this bog will receive an offer of a tailored package of energy efficiency improvements with significant state supports. The Department of Energy added that Irish Rural Link is liaising with families in the areas in question and public workshops on the scheme will start in January 2018. FURTHER READING: Full heat pump scheme details published.