Commercial Heat Pump
Grants in Reading
Air source, ground source and water source heat pumps for Reading businesses and public sector. Salix Finance interest-free loans, Full Expensing, and solar co-location. Free thermal survey within one week.
Heat pump funding in Reading
Multiple stacking incentives apply to commercial heat pump installations in Reading in 2026.
100% first-year tax relief
Heat pump systems qualify as plant and machinery for Full Expensing — 100% of capex deducted from corporation tax in Year 1. A £150,000 heat pump installation delivers a £37,500 tax saving at 25% corporation tax. No cap, permanent, applies to all qualifying commercial heat pump types.
Interest-free loans for public sector
NHS trusts, schools, councils and universities in Reading can access Salix BAU interest-free loans for heat pumps. Repaid from energy savings over 5–12 years. Open-ended and accepting applications now. PSDS Phase 4 closed November 2024 but Salix BAU continues — no end date.
Zero VAT with renewable system
Heat pumps installed as part of a renewable energy system (e.g. alongside solar PV) qualify for 0% VAT on supply and installation. Standalone commercial heat pump VAT eligibility depends on installation context — we assess qualification case-by-case to maximise VAT recovery.
Solar-powered heating at near-zero cost
A solar + heat pump system in Reading uses daytime PV generation to power the heat pump compressor at near-zero marginal cost. Every 1 kWh of solar produces 3.5–5 kWh of useful heat (CoP 3.5–5.0). Particularly effective in Reading buildings with continuous heating demand — hospitals, leisure centres, food production.
Heat pump types for Reading commercial buildings
Most common commercial installation in Reading. Extracts heat from outdoor air — effective down to -15°C with modern units. Low installation disruption. No ground works required. Suited to offices, retail, warehouses and healthcare buildings.
Higher CoP than ASHP, particularly in winter. Requires ground loop installation — open land or borehole drilling. Suited to Reading sites with available land (rural fringe, business parks, hospitals). More capital-intensive but lower running costs.
Delivers flow temperatures up to 75°C — compatible with existing radiator systems without full fabric upgrades. Enables direct boiler replacement in Reading older commercial buildings without refurbishment. Increasingly cost-competitive as grid and boiler gas prices diverge.
250 kWp solar + 200 kW ASHP for a Reading office/industrial building
- • 250 kWp rooftop solar: ~£175,000
- • 200 kW ASHP system: ~£120,000
- • Hot water storage (1,000L): ~£8,000
- • Controls + integration: ~£12,000
- Total: ~£315,000
- • Gas boiler replacement (at 5p/kWh gas): ~£32,000/yr
- • Solar-powered heat pump offset: ~£18,000/yr
- • 0% VAT saving on install: ~£63,000 (Year 0)
- • Full Expensing tax relief: ~£78,750 (Year 1)
- Net cost after incentives: ~£173,250
Heat pump opportunities in Reading
Other clean energy services in Reading
Heat pump questions from Reading businesses
What heat pump grants are available for Reading businesses?
How does solar + heat pump work in Reading?
Are Reading older commercial buildings suitable for heat pumps?
What is the Salix Finance route for Reading public sector heat pumps?
Free heat pump funding assessment for your Reading site
We scope heat pump type, size, funding route and payback from a free thermal survey. Same-week visits across ${d.region}.
No obligation. We don't charge for grant scoping.