UK Green Energy Digest — 28 July 2026

Four policy updates from the past two weeks directly affect UK homeowners who heat without mains gas, own low-carbon technology, or are considering solar panels. Here is what changed and what to do.

Heat pump grant rises to £9,000 — who qualifies in England and Wales

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for air-to-water and ground source heat pumps increased from £7,500 to £9,000 on 21 July 2026. The government announced the 20% uplift on 26 June 2026; it is now live.

Who qualifies: Properties in England and Wales that are not connected to the mains gas network and are currently heated by oil or LPG. Your MCS-accredited installer applies for the voucher before installation begins. Air-to-air heat pumps attract a separate £2,500 standard grant and are not eligible for the £9,000 rate. Biomass boilers remain on a standard grant of £5,000.

End date: The higher rate runs to 31 March 2027, after which it reverts unless the government extends it.

Scotland and Northern Ireland: This scheme is administered by Ofgem and covers England and Wales only. Scottish households can explore current grants and interest-free loans through Home Energy Scotland. Northern Ireland is not covered by this scheme.

Read our heat pump grants guide for full eligibility detail, or check eligibility and apply on GOV.UK. To take the next step, find a MCS-accredited installer near you.

Government sets out plans for flexible tariffs and smart meter settlements

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published its Clean Flexibility Roadmap — July 2026 update on 13 July, covering half-hourly smart meter settlement and the government's next steps for owners of low-carbon technology.

By mid-June 2026, more than 11.3 million smart meters — roughly one in three of all electricity metering systems in Britain — had migrated to half-hourly settlement. Full migration across all smart meters is targeted for May 2027.

The roadmap commits the government to set out plans for how owners of low-carbon technology could access flexible tariffs — with an opt-out option — by Q1 2027. This is a commitment to publish plans by that date, not to deliver flexible tariffs. The first phase of time-of-use tariff data standardisation is separately due in February 2027.

A formal consultation on vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology — which includes vehicle-to-grid — is committed by end of 2026. No consultation document is published yet. If you own an EV or are considering one, our EV charger guide covers current smart charging options. If you have a smart meter, ask your supplier whether a time-of-use tariff is currently available to you.

Community battery consultation closes Wednesday 30 July

The DESNZ call for evidence on community battery storage closes at 11:59pm on Wednesday 30 July 2026. The government is exploring whether neighbourhood-scale batteries could extend the benefits of energy storage to households that cannot install domestic systems — including people in flats, low-income households, and those in properties without suitable space. No scheme has been announced; the government is at the evidence-gathering stage.

The call for evidence primarily targets electricity network companies, battery manufacturers and installers, local authorities, social housing landlords, and community energy groups. Individual members of the public can also submit views by email to [email protected] before the deadline.

Our home battery guide covers domestic storage options for homeowners who can install a system.

GBE solar programme adds 100 schools and launches 150-school no-upfront-cost pilot

The government announced on 16 July that 100 additional schools are joining the Great British Energy Solar Partnership, alongside a 150-school no-upfront-cost pilot in Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands, and the South East.

The first-wave installations are projected to save a combined £220 million over their lifetime. Savings vary by school size: secondary schools report around £58,600 per year; primary schools around £21,000.

In the 150-school pilot, private investors fund, install, and maintain the panels; schools then buy the electricity generated at a cheaper rate. This Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure mirrors the no-upfront-cost model that some households can access through commercial solar providers. The government expects a national rollout to all schools and colleges in England from 2027 to 2028.

Use our solar savings estimator for a household figure, or read our solar panels guide for current funding routes.

What to do this week

• Off-gas-grid in England or Wales? The £9,000 BUS grant is live now and runs to 31 March 2027. Get quotes from MCS-accredited installers.
• Own a smart meter? Ask your supplier whether you are on half-hourly settlement and whether a time-of-use tariff is already available.
• Community energy group or housing association? Submit views on community battery storage by 11:59pm Wednesday 30 July.
• Considering solar panels? Use our solar savings estimator for a household-level savings figure.