THOUSANDS of Somerset households can claim thousands of pounds in government grants to install heat pumps to reduce their energy bills.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is currently offering grants under its boiler upgrade scheme, providing £7,500 towards installing either an air source heat pump or ground source heat pump or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler.

Up to 40,000 households in the former South Somerset area could benefit from a new partnership between green technology company Thermly and Retrofit Somerset, which will support the delivery of new heat pumps.

Eligible households are currently being invited to contact either organisation, with the first 20 households to sign up receiving an additional £1,000 towards the installation of their new heat pump.

This partnership will expand into the remaining parts of Somerset within the next 18 months, with all heat pump installations being carried out by local companies.

Heat pumps use relatively small amounts of electricity to extract, move and enhance heat already in the air or ground into a given property, and are up to five times more efficient than conventional boilers.

Bridgwater Mercury: A map of the locations eligible within the first phase of the rollout.A map of the locations eligible within the first phase of the rollout. (Image: Supplied)

Retrofit Somerset project manager Chris Gaskell said: “As a project looking at ways to overcome barriers to delivering retrofit action across Somerset, we are delighted to partner with the Thermly platform.

“This will help homeowners identify if their home is suitable for upgrading
their heating to a heat pump.

“This will help reduce the use of high carbon-emitting fossil fuels and allow them to heat their homes and water with a more energy efficient technology.

“The Thermly app will also help homeowners connect to local heat pump installers to make their installation journey as easy and efficient as possible.

“We look forward to working together to help more people get a heat pump installed.”

The following settlements are eligible for support within the first phase of Thermly and Retrofit Somerset’s rollout:

  • Alhampton
  • Baltonsborough
  • Barrington
  • Bruton
  • Butleigh (including Butleigh Wooton)
  • Castle Cary
  • Crewkerne
  • Curry Rivel
  • Ditcheat
  • Galhampton
  • Haselbury Plucknett
  • Hambridge
  • Keinton Mandeville
  • Kingsbury Episcopi
  • Kingweston
  • Langport
  • Long Sutton
  • Lower Burron
  • Maperton
  • Martock
  • Merriott
  • Milborne Port
  • Montacute
  • North Cadbury
  • Shepton Beauchamp
  • South Petherton
  • Sparkford
  • Stoke-sub-Hamdon
  • Templecombe
  • Tintinhull
  • West Lydford
  • Wincanton

Thermly co-founder Gareth Robertson said: “We are on a mission to change the way we heat our homes.

“We make it super simple to install a heat pump by helping you work out if one is right for you, matching you with the right local installer and helping you access finance quickly if you need it.

“This locally driven partnership is the first of its kind in the UK and we’re excited that such a green-minded community are as keen as us to future-proof homes and move us all towards more sustainable energy choices.”

For further information, visit www.thermly.co.uk/somerset or www.retrofitsomerset.info.