More than half of the money spent on fuel bills goes towards heating your home.
So, making sure your heating system is efficient and cost effective is important for your pocket, and the environment. If you already live in a well-insulated home and you’re looking to make your home as energy efficient as possible, you might be interested in the SEAI’s heat pump grant.
Heat Pumps can offer an attractive alternative to fossil fuel heating systems, offering lower costs and reduced carbon emissions
What are Heat Pumps?
Heat-pumps are devices which convert energy from the air outside of your home into useful heat, in the same way a fridge extracts heat from its inside. In well insulated houses they are very economical to run. They are an extremely efficient alternative to oil, gas, solid fuel and electric home heating systems.
Different types of heat pump systems draw heat from different sources: air, water or the ground. Heat generated is released via radiators, underfloor heating or warm air. All heat pump systems, excluding those providing warm air to the home, can supply all of the hot water needed for baths, showers and sinks.
What types of Heat Pump systems are available?
- Air source – These are the most common type of heat pump. They extract heat from external air, typically using an outside unit. These heat pump systems do not require underground piping to source heat and so can be cheaper and easier to install compared to ground source heat pump systems.
- Ground source – A ground-source heat pump system uses the earth as a source of renewable heat. Heat is removed from the ground through collector pipework and then transferred to the heat pump. The ground collector can be laid out horizontally at a shallow depth below the surface or else vertically to a greater depth.
- Water source – Water source heat pump systems use open water, such as lakes, rivers or streams, as a heat source. Heat is removed from the water through collector pipework and then transferred to the heat pump.
Benefits of Heat Pumps
Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods.
- More comfort – Installing a heat pump system in a well-insulated home will transform the comfort levels in your home.
- Cheaper heating bills – Reduce your heating bills by improving your energy efficiency.
- Reduce your emissions – No more burning fossil fuels, so you are supporting the environment by reducing your carbon emissions.
Value of Heat Pump grants available from SEAI
Below are the grants available from the SEAI for each different type of heat pump system.
| Heat Pump Grant Value | |
| Air to Water Heat Pump | €3,500 |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | €3,500 |
| Exhaust Air to Water Heat Pump | €3,500 |
| Water to Water Heat Pump | €3,500 |
| Air to Air Heat Pump | €600 |
Ensuring your home is heat pump ready
One of the requirements for a home to qualify for a heat pump system grant is that the property has low heat loss. This is to ensure your heat pump system performs well and your electricity bills are not too high. You can achieve this by insulating your home and/or by upgrading your windows. Note: SEAI also offers grants for home insulation.
Before applying for a heat pump system grant, you must engage an independent, SEAI Registered Technical Advisor. Your Technical Advisor will carry out a technical assessment of your home, and will advise you on what steps to take to make your home “heat pump ready”, i.e. to reduce the heat loss in your home.
SEAI offer a €200 grant towards the technical assessment of your home. This grant is only payable in conjunction with the heat pump system grant.
Who can apply for an SEAI Heat Pump grant?
All homeowners, including landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2011 can apply. This is defined as the date your electricity meter was installed. Note that this is different to other grant measures where the home must be built before 2006.
