The three conditions
GOV.UK says you can only get a biomass boiler grant if all of these apply:
- The property is off the gas grid.
- It is in a rural location.
- The boiler has an emissions certificate showing that polluting emissions are kept to a minimum.
On top of those, the usual rules apply: you own the property in England or Wales, you are replacing fossil fuel or electric heating, and an MCS-certified installer — certified for biomass specifically — applies on your behalf. Biomass boilers cannot be installed with the grant in self-build properties. Ofgem’s guidance says biomass is only eligible in limited circumstances and subject to additional location and air-quality requirements, which the installer assesses.
The amount: £5,000
The notice of approved grant categories lists biomass at £5,000 for every off-gas property type — whether the system being replaced is oil, LPG, coal, electric, a fossil fuel hybrid or other fossil fuel. There is no biomass category for a property connected to mains gas. The £9,000 uplift introduced on 21 July 2026 applies to air-to-water and ground source heat pumps only, not biomass.
Biomass or a heat pump?
| Off-gas rural property replacing oil | Biomass boiler | Air source heat pump | Ground source heat pump |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant | £5,000 | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Location rule | Rural and off-gas only | Any eligible property | Any eligible property |
| Self-build | Not eligible | £7,500 (no uplift) | £7,500 (no uplift) |
| Voucher validity | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
| Fuel | Wood pellets, chips or logs — needs storage and deliveries | Electricity | Electricity |
The grant difference points most off-gas households towards a heat pump, and the statistics show it: of 93,364 grants paid, only 421 were for biomass. Oil was the fuel replaced in 17% of all grants — overwhelmingly by heat pumps. If you are weighing the two, ask an installer certified for both to explain which suits your building, and compare running costs using your fuel prices. See the off-gas heat pump grant and ground source costs.
Practical points
- Fuel storage and delivery. A biomass boiler needs dry storage for fuel and access for deliveries, and regular ash removal.
- Emissions and air quality. The emissions certificate is a condition of the grant; your local authority may have its own air-quality rules, especially in smoke control areas.
- Flue and planning. A biomass boiler needs a flue; check with the installer whether planning permission or building regulations approval is involved.
- VAT. Ofgem’s property-owner page includes biomass boilers in the 0% VAT relief on energy-saving materials in homes, until 31 March 2027.
Applying for the biomass grant
The process is the same as for a heat pump: the MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem, you confirm consent within 14 days, and the voucher lasts 3 months. The installer will need evidence that the property is off-gas and rural and that the boiler’s emissions certificate is valid. The grant is deducted from your quote upfront. Full steps: how to apply.
Paying the balance after the grant
The grant comes off the price before you pay anything, so the question is only how to fund what is left. These are the routes people use — this site does not arrange credit or recommend a lender.
| Route | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | Pay the balance on the installer’s payment schedule. You own the system outright. | How much deposit is asked for up front, and whether it is protected under the installer’s consumer code. |
| 0% VAT | Applied by the installer on a supply-and-install job in a home until 31 March 2027; 5% after. | That the quote shows no VAT on the installation. Equipment bought without installation is standard-rated. |
| Mortgage further advance or green home loan | Some lenders offer borrowing earmarked for energy improvements, sometimes at reduced rates. | The representative APR, the total amount repayable and any fees — compare against simply paying from savings. |
| Installer-arranged credit | Some installers introduce a credit broker so the balance is paid monthly. | The lender must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Ask for the APR and total repayable in writing before you sign anything. |
| Scotland only | Home Energy Scotland offers an interest-free loan of up to £7,500 alongside its own grant (not the Boiler Upgrade Scheme). | Apply to Home Energy Scotland before work starts. |
Biomass questions
“Biomass gets less than a heat pump, so it must be the worse option.”
The grant reflects policy priorities, not suitability for your house. Biomass is funded at £5,000 in narrow circumstances; most off-gas homes will find a heat pump the simpler route, with £7,500 or £9,000. But for a large, hard-to-heat rural property, an installer may still recommend biomass — ask them to show both options.
“I can get the biomass grant in a self-build.”
No. Biomass boilers cannot be funded in self-build properties.