Northern Ireland Heat Pump Grants 2026
NI has the smallest UK heat pump funding currently — the £400-£1,700 income-tested Boiler Replacement Scheme. Dedicated heat-pump-scale funding is in development by DfE for 2026-27.
NI Boiler Replacement Scheme
The NI Boiler Replacement Scheme is the main domestic heating grant currently available. It was designed for gas/oil boiler replacement and only loosely supports heat pumps:
| Replacement type | Grant amount |
|---|---|
| Oil boiler → new condensing oil boiler | £400-£1,000 |
| Gas boiler → new condensing gas boiler | £400-£1,000 |
| Oil/gas → air source heat pump | £1,000-£1,700 |
| Oil/gas → ground source heat pump | £1,700 |
Eligibility
- You own a property in Northern Ireland
- Annual household income under £40,000 (means-tested)
- Existing boiler is over 15 years old or broken beyond repair
- Property has valid EPC
Apply via the NI Housing Executive — they administer the scheme. Allow 8-12 weeks from application to install.
Affordable Warmth Scheme
The Affordable Warmth Scheme is the broader NI fuel-poverty programme. It covers insulation and heating upgrades for low-income households (under £23,000 net household income). Heat pumps can be funded as part of the package, though it's used more often for insulation + boiler.
- Full or partial funding (depending on income)
- Insulation: loft, cavity wall, draught-proofing
- Heating: boiler replacement, sometimes heat pump
- Apply via local council, not Housing Executive
NI's planned heat pump scheme (2026-27)
The Department for the Economy committed in 2024 to launching a NI-specific heat pump grant scheme to match BUS-equivalent funding. As of May 2026:
- Proposed amount: £5,000-£7,500 per installation (matching mainland UK)
- Expected launch: Late 2026 or 2027 (consultation completed Q1 2026)
- Eligibility: Likely similar to BUS — valid EPC, MCS installer, no income test
- Funding: TBD, but pilot expected at £15-25m initial pot
Watch this space — we'll update this page when the scheme launches. If you're planning a 2026-27 NI install and can wait, the new scheme will be significantly more generous than current options.
Local NI council top-ups
A few NI councils offer additional eco-grants:
- Belfast City Council — Belfast Streets Ahead heat pump pilot (£1,500 top-up if available)
- Ards & North Down — small renewable energy grants (~£500-£1,000)
- Mid & East Antrim — rural off-gas-grid heat pump bonuses
Council schemes change year-to-year. Contact your local council's housing or environment team for current availability.