British Gas and Daikin have successfully installed what they said was the first heat pump in the country part-funded by the government’s new Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
The Daikin Monobloc system was installed and commissioned at 00.01am on Friday 1st April at the home of a British Gas customer in Hungerford, using a grant of £5,000 towards the upfront cost.
British Gas and Daikin have formed a new partnership designed to increase take-up, aiming to install 1,000 air source heat pumps this year and 20,000 per year by 2025.
Jana Siber, managing director at British Gas, said: “This is a landmark moment for the renewable heating market in the UK, as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding makes heat pumps more accessible to more homeowners.
“Installing a heat pump is one of the single best things households can do to lower their carbon footprint, today. We understand that everyone’s homes and individual circumstances differ, but for those who can, now is the time to look at renewable home heating – with support from us, and from Daikin.”
Henk van den Berg, strategic business manager – heating & renewables at Daikin UK, added: “Daikin has been installing heat pumps in the UK since 2005 and uses the latest and most efficient technology. It’s vital that those making the switch to heat pumps have an excellent experience – during the installation and in the weeks, months and years that follow. Then they can spread the word and encourage others to follow suit.
“That’s why we’re so pleased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been kickstarted with a quality, tried and tested Daikin system – installed by experts we’ve trained at British Gas. We hope that more households who are in the position to upgrade their boiler to a heat pump will now do just that – benefiting from a £5,000 grant and the recently-announced removal of VAT.”