Heat Pump Grant
A heat pump transfers heat from one place to another with minimal loss of heat in between.
They are remarkably efficient, offering 3-4 times the units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed. However, if your home has air leakage, the efficiency is lost.
There are different types of heat pumps:
Kind | Description |
|---|---|
Air to Water heat pump system | The most common heat pump system extracts heat from external air using an outside unit. |
Ground Source to Water heat pump system | A ground source heat pump system uses the earth as a source of renewable heat. |
Exhaust Air to Water heat pump system | Similar to air to water but includes mechanical extract ventilation and heat recovery from the property. |
Water to Water heat pump system | This system uses open water, such as lakes, rivers, or streams, as a heat source. |
Air to Air heat pump system | This system distributes heat through air units. They do not provide hot water. |
Application Process
If your home was built before 2007, you must complete a technical assessment for which the SEAI will contribute €200 if you get the full heat pump installation.
You must use an SEAI-registered technical advisor.
If your home was built after 2007, you can submit a self-declaration, but you can still avail of the grant for the technical assessment.
If you doubt whether your home is suitable for a heat pump, you should err on caution and book a technical assessment, as you will receive a €200 assessment grant.
You must apply for the grant directly with the SEAI.
Steps:
If your house was built before 2007, complete the technical assessment; otherwise, it's optional, and you submit a declaration form.
Find a registered contractor.
Apply for a grant.
Accept the grant offer.
Get the work done within 8 months.
Post-works BER Assessment.
Grant payment request.
Eligibility
All homeowners, including private landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2021 can apply. The date is defined as when your electricity meter was installed.
Your home must also have significantly low heat loss.
Advantages
Amazing efficiency
Very quiet
Clean
Low emissions
It can be competitive compared to a traditional boiler when fuel savings are considered.
Disadvantages
Your home must be well-insulated to benefit from a heat pump truly.
It would be best if you accommodated a large fan outside your home.
You may also need to accommodate the heat pump inside the home, which is the size of a fridge.
It can take up to a day for the heat pump to adjust to new settings.
There is a learning curve.
Median Costs
Here is a table that outlines the median costs. Remember, "median" means the midpoint, so your costs may be lower or higher. However, you can still use this knowledge to negotiate with your supplier.
Heat Pump
House Type | Median Cost | Fixed Grant |
|---|---|---|
Detached | €15,000 | €6,500 |
Semi-D/ End-terrace | €14,630 | €6,500 |
Mid-terrace | €13,000 | €6,500 |
Apartment | €11,850 | €4,500 |
Note: It's easy to be misled by statistics here, but if you get an air-to-air heat pump system, the grant is €3,500. These systems are not very common in Ireland, which is why the statistics do not show them.
The data is based on 40,118 homes completed through Individual Energy Upgrades (December 2023). The median is the midpoint of all the upgrade costs, where half of the upgrades are less expensive and half are more expensive.
NOTE: This author has an air-to-water heat pump and has personal experience in the matter.