The Big One: Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides a £7,500 grant for air source heat pump installation and £7,500 for ground source heat pumps, deducted at the point of purchase — you never see the money, the installer claims it on your behalf. There is no income threshold: any homeowner in England replacing a fossil fuel boiler with a heat pump qualifies. The scheme has been extended and remains open in 2026.
For East Anglia homeowners off the gas grid (much of rural Norfolk, west Cambridgeshire Fenland, and rural Suffolk), combining the BUS grant with 0% VAT makes a heat pump the most cost-competitive heating option available. We handle the full BUS grant application process and claim on your behalf.
0% VAT on All Home Renewables
Since April 2022, all residential renewable energy installations — solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, EV chargers, insulation, and draught-proofing — qualify for 0% VAT (reduced from 5%). This applies to both the equipment and the installation labour. For a £7,000 solar + battery system, 0% VAT saves £350. For a £15,000 heat pump system, it saves £750.
The 0% VAT rate is confirmed until at least March 2027, with expectation of extension. It applies automatically — you do not need to apply; we include 0% VAT in all our quotes.
ECO4 (Ending December 2026)
The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) scheme requires large energy suppliers (British Gas, E.ON, EDF etc.) to fund energy efficiency improvements for low-income households. Qualifying measures include insulation (cavity wall, external wall, loft), heat pumps, solar panels (limited), and first-time central heating.
To qualify: you must receive a means-tested benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Benefit under income threshold) OR live in a local authority-referred low-income area; AND your property must be rated EPC D, E, F, or G. ECO4 ends 31 December 2026 — households eligible should act now. Green Hat works with ECO4 installers to deliver qualifying measures.
Local Council Schemes in East Anglia
Several East Anglia councils participate in additional schemes. Cambridgeshire: CERP Warm Homes Local Grant (part of county consortium) — up to £15,000 for households in CB, PE, and IP postcodes meeting income thresholds. Solar Together Cambridgeshire: group-buy solar scheme organised annually, typically offering 10–15% discount on market rates. Norfolk: Warmer Homes Norfolk (administered by Norfolk County Council) — grants and loans for insulation and heating. Warm Homes Norfolk partnership. Suffolk: Solar Together Suffolk (annual group buy), Warm Homes Suffolk (referral service).
Smart Export Guarantee
The Smart Export Guarantee is not technically a grant but it is a regulated income stream for solar panel owners. Every energy supplier with over 150,000 customers must offer a tariff paying you for electricity exported to the grid. Rates range from 4p/kWh (basic tariffs) to 24p/kWh at Octopus Flux peak times. For a 4 kW solar system in East Anglia exporting 1,500–2,000 kWh/year, SEG adds £60–£300 per year to your solar return.
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