Air source heat pumps are proving the most popular technology among householders investing in renewable heating systems under a new Government grant scheme launched this month.
According to figures obtained by
GreenWise today, just over 900 vouchers, totaling more than £750,000, have been issued so far under the
Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) a grant scheme launched on August 1 to kick start the renewable heat market.
But while most enquiries ahead of the launch of the RHPP were about solar hot water systems, 36 per cent of vouchers – the highest proportion so far – have been given out for air source heat pumps, according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), which is managing the £15 million grant scheme on behalf of the Government.
Voucher distribution breakdown
The next most sought after technology with 29 per cent of vouchers was solar thermal, the EST said, followed by ground source heat pumps at 21 per cent and biomass boilers at 14 per cent.
The majority of vouchers – 75 per cent – have so far been issued in England despite the RHPP also being open to householders in Scotland and Wales.
"There’s always a few surprises along the way in schemes like this, and in this case, it’s the technology split," the EST said in a blog. "The trailblazing technology, at the moment, in terms of vouchers being given out is air source heat pumps."