Heat Pump Grants Northern Ireland 2026

Heat Pump Grants in Northern Ireland: Fewer Options, But Still Worth Knowing

Let's be straight with you: Northern Ireland gets less government support for heat pumps than the rest of the UK. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (which gives £7,500 to homeowners in England and Wales) doesn't apply here. That's a real gap, and it's frustrating.

But there are still routes to funding, and the financial case for switching to a heat pump is actually stronger in Northern Ireland than almost anywhere else in the UK. Here's why, and what support is available.

Why NI Has No Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Energy policy is devolved in Northern Ireland, and NI has its own funding mechanisms. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is administered by Ofgem and applies only to England and Wales. Scotland runs its own parallel scheme (Home Energy Scotland). The Northern Ireland Executive has its own schemes, but they're more limited in scope and funding levels.

NISEP: The Main NI Scheme

The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) is overseen by the Utility Regulator and funded by a levy on electricity bills. It works similarly to ECO4 in GB, but it's delivered on the ground by a set of approved "Scheme Managers" (currently 11 of them), not by your retail electricity supplier directly.

NISEP can fund heat pump installations for some households, but it's primarily focused on lower-income households and tends to prioritise insulation and heating controls first. Available measures vary year to year depending on which Scheme Managers are active.

To find out what's currently available under NISEP, check the Utility Regulator's annual list of NISEP Scheme Managers and contact a scheme manager directly, or get in touch with the NI Energy Advice service on 0800 111 4455.

Heads-Up: NI's Grant Landscape Is Changing

In February 2026 the Department for Communities launched the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy, a 10-year framework with a £150m Warm Healthy Homes Fund. Funding from this new programme is expected to start flowing from March 2027, and some existing schemes (including Affordable Warmth, below) are expected to be restructured under it. If you're not in a rush, it's worth keeping an eye on what the new framework offers before committing.

Affordable Warmth Scheme

If your household income is below £23,000 and you live in a private property (not Housing Executive), the Affordable Warmth scheme could help. It's administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and can fund:

• Replacement heating systems, including heat pumps in some cases
• Insulation measures
• Energy efficiency improvements

The income threshold is lower than equivalent schemes in GB, which means fewer households qualify. But for those who do, the support can be significant.

Contact the Housing Executive on 03448 920 900 or apply through your local Housing Executive office.

Oil Boiler Replacement Grants

Some Northern Ireland councils have run targeted grants for replacing old oil boilers, including with heat pumps. These tend to come and go. Check with your local council directly, as availability changes year to year.

Honest Assessment: NI vs GB Support

The Silver Lining: NI Has the Best Case for Switching

Here's what most guides don't tell you. Around 68% of Northern Ireland homes heat with oil, far higher than anywhere else in the UK. And oil is expensive, volatile, and the price has been brutal in recent years.

A heat pump running on electricity replaces an oil boiler entirely. The savings from dropping oil costs can be very substantial, potentially £600–£1,200 per year depending on your usage and tariff. Over 10–15 years, that pays for a heat pump installation several times over, even without a government grant.

Add in the 0% VAT on heat pump installations (which applies UK-wide, including NI), and the actual net cost is lower than the headline price suggests. A £10,000 installation would have cost £12,000 at the old 20% VAT rate, so you're already saving £2,000 compared to a few years ago.

What to Do if You're in NI

1. Check Affordable Warmth eligibility first if your income is below £23,000. Call the Housing Executive on 03448 920 900
2. Contact your electricity supplier about NISEP measures currently available
3. Check your local council for any targeted grant schemes
4. If you don't qualify for any scheme, get quotes from MCS-certified installers and look at whether a 0% finance arrangement makes sense given the oil savings you'd make

The gap in NI support is real and it's worth lobbying your Assembly representative about. But don't let the lack of a BUS grant stop you from at least exploring what a heat pump would cost and save. The numbers can still work in your favour.