Low carbon incentive grants (FOI)

​Request

To obtain a grant under the low carbon incentive an applicant must contact suitable Contractor ​​Quality Scheme (CQS) certified contractors to enquire about the scheme and obtain quotes. Only three​​​​ companies that can install heat pumps are CQS certified which must reduce the availability of the grant.

Pleae advise how many grants have been paid to date?

Response

As at 31 March 2024, a total of 253 applications for the low carbon heating incentive had been received.  Of these, 204 had been redeemed with payment having been made.

This total includes all of the low carbon technologies available to households from which they can make their choice.  This includes heat pumps, electric flow boilers and direct electric heating.

Within this figure (253), 36 households have applied for grants to replace existing fossil fuel heating systems with an air source heat pump.

A further series of training courses are planned for May 2024.  This will enable additional local contractors (there are currently four signed up to the courses) to move towards accreditation.  In addition, existing contractors will also be able to boost their own heating system design capacity which will support their ability to process an increased number of enquiries and applications.

​Assuming all new contractors signed up to the training successfully complete the CQS accreditation, it will take the number of approved contractors able to complete work under the Low Carbon Heating Incentive up to eight.​