From boiler replacements and insulation to heat pumps and solar panels, financial support is available to help Northern Ireland households make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.
With energy prices remaining high and household budgets under pressure, finding ways to reduce your energy bills is more important than ever. Switching to a better energy deal is one way to save money, but making your home more energy efficient can also help reduce costs over the longer term.
The good news is that financial support is available through the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP), with grants to help households make improvements to their homes.
Some improvements can be fully funded, while others offer a grant towards the cost. Here's what you need to know about the 2026/27 schemes and where to find help.
What is NISEP?
NISEP is an £8 million programme that helps households across Northern Ireland reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency. It is funded through a levy on electricity customers and administered by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Utility Regulator.
Around 80% of funding is targeted at vulnerable customers, but some grants are also available to households on higher incomes. The 2026/27 programme runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, although individual schemes may close earlier.
Is NISEP different from Affordable Warmth?
Yes. NISEP is separate from other energy efficiency support programmes, including the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Affordable Warmth Scheme. Both help eligible households improve their heating and insulation, but have different eligibility and funding arrangements.
NISEP generally targets households that cannot access the same assistance through other government schemes. You cannot receive NISEP funding for the same improvement at a property if another grant programme has already approved it. A grant for the same measure at that property within the previous 15 years can also affect eligibility, subject to limited exceptions. It's worth exploring the different options.
What NISEP grants are available in 2026/27?
NISEP offers fully funded and part-funded schemes covering improvements such as heating upgrades, boiler replacements, insulation and certain renewable technologies. The guide groups household support into three sections: owner occupiers, owner occupiers and private tenants, and Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants.
1. Fully funded schemes for owner occupiers
These schemes can cover the full cost of eligible improvements, with no contribution required from qualifying households.
Gross annual household income limits are generally below £28,000 for a single-person household or £35,000 for a couple or family.
- Better Energy Homes Plus – O'Kane Plumbing and Electrics Ltd (across NI)
- Efficiency Plus – Fully Funded – Phoenix Energy (Phoenix Energy licence area)
- Warm at Home Plus – Evolve Network (Evolve licence area)
These schemes can help replace older or inefficient heating systems and provide loft or cavity wall insulation where required.
The same gross household income limits (below £28,000/£35,000 respectively) generally apply.
- Whole House Warmer Homes NI – KORE Retrofit (across NI)
This scheme focuses on homes requiring solid wall insulation. Heating upgrades and other insulation improvements may also be included where appropriate.
The same gross household income limits (below £28,000/£35,000 respectively) generally apply.
- Green Heat NI – Refresh NI (across NI)
- Toasty Homes – Heat Pump and Solar Technologies – McGaffin Mechanical (across NI)
These schemes support eligible homes with improvements such as air source heat pumps and insulation. The Toasty Homes scheme includes qualifying solar PV and battery storage measures.
For fully funded insulation-only schemes, the income limits are generally £33,000 for a single-person household and £40,000 for a couple or family.
- Keep Warm Scheme – Workspace Ltd (across NI)
- Thermal Comfort – Energystore (across NI)
- Efficiency Plus – Fully Funded Insulation – Phoenix Energy (applications through Refresh NI)
- Insulate Homes Scheme – Bluebuild (across NI)
2. Part-funded schemes for owner occupiers and private tenants
If you don't qualify for fully funded assistance, you may still be able to receive a grant towards the cost of improving your home.
Gross annual household income limits are generally below £45,000 for a single-person household or £50,000 for a couple or family.
These schemes can provide a 60% grant towards qualifying heating upgrades, with loft or cavity wall insulation fully funded where required.
- Better Energy Homes Cashback – O'Kane Plumbing and Electrics Ltd (across NI)
- Efficiency Plus – Part Funded – Phoenix Energy (Phoenix Energy licence area)
- Warm at Home Cashback – Evolve Network (Evolve licence area)
These schemes may be available at all income levels if you aren't eligible for other NISEP assistance. They generally offer a 40% grant towards qualifying insulation costs, subject to funding caps.
- Efficiency Plus – Insulation Cashback – Phoenix Energy (applications through Refresh NI)
- Keep Warm Discount Scheme – Workspace Ltd (across NI)
- Help to Insulate – Energystore (across NI)
3. Schemes for Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants
NISEP also includes a separate scheme for qualifying Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) tenants.
- Priority PV Scheme – Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
This scheme is for selected single-storey NIHE homes outside the natural gas area that use oil or electric heating. Gross annual household income must be below £28,000 for a single-person household or £35,000 for a couple or family.
NISEP contributes 50% of the cost of the solar PV system, hybrid inverter and battery storage, with NIHE funding the remainder. Eligible tenants do not have to pay. NIHE is responsible for selecting the properties, so this is not a general solar grant open for individual households to apply for directly.
Who can apply and how do you get started?
As well as household income, eligibility can depend on your property, existing heating system, location and whether you own or rent your home. Many heating schemes require an existing boiler to be over 15 years old or beyond economical repair.
- Find a suitable scheme. Review the official NISEP List for improvements relevant to your home.
- Check the eligibility criteria. Look at income, property and location requirements.
- Contact the operator. They can explain how to apply and arrange an assessment where appropriate. For the Priority PV Scheme, NIHE selects eligible properties.
Not sure where to start? Contact the Northern Ireland Energy Advice Service on 0800 111 4455 for free, independent advice.
Make your home more efficient – and check your energy deal
Improving your home's energy efficiency can help reduce energy use, keep your home warmer and lower your bills over time. NISEP grants could make those improvements more affordable.
But using less energy is only part of the picture. Paying a competitive price for the energy you use matters too. At Power to Switch, we help households across Northern Ireland compare electricity and gas prices to find better deals.
Scheme information is based on the published NISEP 2026/27 programme. All support is subject to eligibility, funding availability and scheme-specific conditions. Please confirm directly with the scheme operator.
