Boiler Scrappage Scheme Ireland 2026: How the €2,000 Grant Works

The boiler scrappage scheme gives Irish homeowners €2,000 toward replacing an old fossil fuel heating system, and it launched on 6 October 2026 as part of a wider package of enhanced SEAI grants. At the time of writing (October 2026), the grant is available where you scrap an oil, gas or solid fuel heating system in a home built before 2021, and it stacks on top of the existing heat pump grant of up to €12,500. This guide explains who qualifies, how much the full upgrade can be worth, and why many homeowners pair a heat pump with solar so the running costs fall twice over.

What Is the Boiler Scrappage Scheme?

The scheme is a fixed €2,000 grant paid when you remove a fossil fuel heating system and replace it with a renewable one, in practice usually a heat pump. It is designed to do two things at once, cut household emissions and cut the long-term running costs of Irish homes.

• It applies when an existing fossil fuel boiler, solid fuel system or electric storage heating is scrapped and replaced.
• It is separate from, and additional to, the heat pump system grant.
• It was introduced as part of a package aimed at reducing Ireland's reliance on imported fossil fuels.
• The grant is paid through SEAI, with a registered installer handling much of the process.

SEAI sets out the full terms on its heat pump system grants page.

Who Qualifies for the €2,000 Grant?

The core conditions are about the age of the home and the type of heating you remove.

• Your home must have been built before 2021.
• You must be scrapping a fossil fuel heating system, such as an oil or gas boiler, a solid fuel system, or old electric storage heating.
• The replacement must be a renewable heating system, typically an air to water or air to air heat pump.
• The work must be carried out by an SEAI registered installer and meet the scheme's technical standards.
• As with all SEAI grants, you should apply and receive your grant offer before any work begins.

The grant is not means tested, so it is open to any eligible homeowner. It is also distinct from the free upgrades available under the Warmer Homes Scheme, which targets households in receipt of certain social welfare payments.

How Much Can You Claim in Total?

The scrappage grant is one piece of a larger package. When you upgrade efficiently, the individual grants add up quickly.

*Figures correct as of October 2026. Grant amounts and scheme terms are subject to change.

A whole home upgrade, combining insulation, heating and solar, can deliver the largest savings. SEAI estimates a full package can cut household energy costs by up to €1,120 a year, which is where the real return on a heat pump plus solar combination sits.

Why Switch From a Fossil Fuel Boiler to a Heat Pump?

A heat pump runs on electricity rather than oil or gas, so it is only as clean and cheap as the power behind it. Two changes in 2026 have improved that equation.

• A heat pump is far more efficient than a boiler, delivering several units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses.
• Budget 2027 reduced the carbon tax on home heating oil and natural gas from €63.50 to €48.50 per tonne, but the direction of travel on fossil fuels remains upward over the longer term.
• Pairing a heat pump with solar means much of the electricity it uses is generated on your own roof rather than bought at retail rates.
• A heat pump also removes the flue and boiler, freeing wall and roof space, and improves the comfort of a well insulated home.

A heat pump works best when the building envelope is sound. Draught-proofing and insulation should come before or alongside the heating swap, because a leaky home forces the pump to work harder and eats into the savings.

How Does Solar Fit With a Heat Pump?

This is the combination that makes the biggest difference. A heat pump moves your heating onto electricity, and solar generates that electricity on site, so the two reinforce each other.

• Solar covers a large share of daytime electricity, including the power a heat pump uses in milder weather.
• A home battery stores surplus solar for the evening, when heating demand and grid prices are highest.
• The solar PV grant of up to €1,800 and the new €600 battery grant both apply alongside the scrappage support.
• Self-consumption rises from around 30% to 70% with a battery, so less of your generation is exported cheaply.

Our guide to heat pumps and solar panels in Ireland explains how to size the two together, and our heat pump installation team can assess whether your home is ready for the switch.

How Do You Apply?

As with every SEAI grant, the order protects your payment.

• Confirm your home was built before 2021 and that you are scrapping a fossil fuel system.
• Get a BER assessment and a heat pump design from an SEAI registered installer.
• Apply to SEAI and wait for the grant offer before any work starts.
• Install the heat pump and, where it pays, add insulation and solar in the same project.
• Complete the documentation so SEAI releases the grants.

Because the scrappage grant is new, demand is likely to build through late 2026 and 2027. Booking a survey early keeps you ahead of the queue.

Final Thoughts

The €2,000 boiler scrappage scheme makes the switch from oil or gas to a heat pump cheaper than at any point so far. Combined with the heat pump grant, the solar grant and the new battery grant, an Irish home can move almost entirely off fossil fuels while cutting its bills for years to come. The homeowners who get the most from it are the ones who plan the whole upgrade rather than the boiler alone.

Ready to Replace Your Old Boiler With a Heat Pump?

WattCharger can assess your property, recommend the right heat pump for your home and guide you through the SEAI grant process, including the boiler scrappage scheme. If you want to pair it with solar panels, we can design the full system in one plan. Get in touch for a free consultation.