People will be offered government grants to help pay for the cost of air conditioning units in their homes as Britain swelters from increasingly hot summers.
The Government will contribute £2,500 towards the cost of fitting air-to-air heat pumps, which provide cool air in summer as well as warmth in winter.
The i Paper first revealed in July that ministers were looking at expanding the current boiler upgrade scheme, which offers £7,500 grants for installing air-source or ground-source heat pumps, to include those that can also provide cool air.
A domestic aircon unit for a flat or small home typically costs around £4,500, meaning the grant would cover more than half of the expenditure.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said households will also be able to claim £2,500 off the price of heat batteries, which can store heat overnight for use during the day.
Reeves may cut boiler scheme in the Budget
Air-to-air heat pumps work like an air-conditioning unit, but can provide both hot and cold air, while heat batteries use electricity to store heat, which can be released when needed to supply heating, and in some cases hot water.
However, the news comes amid speculation that the Chancellor is preparing to cut overall access to the existing heat pump scheme in her Budget next week.
There were reports last week that Rachel Reeves may reduce the cost of the boiler upgrade scheme by restricting the £7,500 grants for heat pumps to only those on benefits.
Environmental groups accused the Government of sending “mixed signals” to households who want to choose eco-friendly alternatives for their energy use.
The plan to extend subsidies to air-to-air pumps would be the first time air-conditioning units have been eligible for government funding. The Government said all households would be eligible for the aircon grants, not just those on benefits.
This year, Britain experienced its warmest summer on record, with four heatwaves sending temperatures soaring. England also recorded the warmest June on record.
Interest in domestic aircon units has increased over recent years as heatwaves have become more common.
In a Chronic Risks Analysis document published in July, the Government warned: “People may increasingly need to remain at home to stay safe from extreme weather” in the next two to five years due to climate change.
Record month for grant applications
September was a record month for applications for the existing boiler upgrade scheme.
The Government has also launched a consultation on the role alternative heating systems, such as storage heaters, infrared panels or renewable liquid fuels, can play so that every household has a low-carbon option that is right for them.
Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: “Air-to-air heat pumps offer the best of both worlds – keeping you warm in winter while cooling you down when summer comes along.
“With heat pumps more popular than ever, we want to make sure as many people as possible can benefit, especially those in flats or small homes without central heating, so they have greater choice when upgrading their property.
“We are also offering discounts for heat batteries and consulting on the role innovative, clean heating solutions can play, including thermal storage, infrared panels and renewable fuels.”
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Jess Ralston, Energy Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “If the UK doesn’t make the leap away from gas boilers to electric heat pumps that can run on British renewable electricity, as a nation we’ll become ever more dependent on foreign gas imports as North Sea output continues to decline with any new licences making very little difference.
“The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has seen around 100,000 applications already and expanding it to more Net Zero technologies means more choice for consumers that want to make upgrades.
“It also implies that the Government is backing its existing policies instead of cutting them in the upcoming Budget, as has been rumoured, which would create uncertainty in the industry and the jobs that rely on it, as well as damaging investment by sending mixed signals.”
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