New Build Heat Standard

New homes and buildings must install climate-friendly heating systems instead of oil and gas boilers. We are proposing changes to allow wood burning stoves and peat heating to be installed.


Wood burners and peat

We have laid amended regulations in Parliament to allow the use of bioenergy, including wood burners, and peat systems in all homes and buildings and are going through the process needed to bring this into force.

In the meantime, we have introduced a temporary direction allowing bioenergy heating systems including wood burners and peat-burning systems to be installed in new-build homes. 

This direction will remain in place until the amended regulations come into force. This is expected to be in January 2025. 

This does not change the position on oil and gas boilers which are not allowed. 

Bioenergy definition

Bioenergy is a collective term for fuels used to generate energy which are produced from plants and other organic material. For the purpose of the NBHS, bioenergy includes both biofuels and biomass – these include systems using wood, vegetable oils and biogas.

Some systems using bioenergy are also be able to use fossil fuels. If the intended use of a system is with bioenergy, then this would be permitted.

Contact

Email: 2024heatstandard@gov.scot 

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