UK Delays Clean Heat Scheme Amid Industry Pressure

The government postpones a key climate initiative to boost heat pump installations, sparking criticism and a market investigation.

The UK government has postponed the implementation of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, initially set for April 2024, to April 2025, following pressure from gas boiler manufacturers.
The scheme aimed to increase the installation of low-carbon heat pumps to meet the UK's net zero emissions target but faced opposition, labeled as a 'boiler tax' by the industry.
Reforms to the boiler upgrade scheme will allow households to save approximately £2,500 on heat pump installations by removing the insulation upgrade requirement.
The energy secretary has requested a Competition and Markets Authority investigation into the boiler market amid concerns over unfair price hikes by manufacturers.
Critics argue the delay undermines the UK's climate goals and jeopardizes the target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028.