The Tepeo ZEB (Zero Emission Boiler) is one of the first "heat battery" boilers to reach the UK market, marketed as a drop-in replacement for a gas boiler that needs no outdoor unit and, in most homes, no new radiators. But at a £6,000 sticker price, the real question for most homeowners is simple: what does it actually cost once grants are factored in, and is it worth it compared to a gas boiler or a heat pump? Here's what we found.
What Is the Tepeo ZEB?
Rather than burning gas or moving heat from outside air like a heat pump, the ZEB charges a ceramic core with electricity — usually overnight on a cheap off-peak tariff — and then releases that stored heat to your existing radiators or underfloor heating throughout the day. Tepeo describes it as a "heat battery": it stores energy the way a battery stores charge, rather than generating heat on demand.
Because it connects into a home's existing wet central-heating pipework, most installations don't require new radiators, and there's no outdoor condenser unit to site, which is one of the ZEB's main selling points over an air-source heat pump.
How Much Does the Tepeo ZEB Cost?
Tepeo prices the ZEB as a single unit price rather than a "from" figure that installers mark up:
Item | Cost |
|---|---|
ZEB unit (includes VAT and delivery) | £6,000 |
Installation labour | Varies by property — typically a 1–2 day job |
Radiator upgrades | Not usually required |
Tepeo doesn't publish a fixed installation price, since it depends on your existing pipework, electrical supply and where the unit is sited. The company's online home-check survey is the way to get a firm, property-specific installation quote rather than relying on a generic estimate.
Tepeo ZEB Grants: What's Available Right Now
The £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant
The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) — which already funds heat pumps — is being extended to cover heat batteries that meet the MCS thermal storage standard. Homes that qualify will be able to claim a £2,500 grant toward a ZEB installation from winter 2026. As of publication, the scheme extension has not yet formally opened, so this grant is not yet live for ZEB customers.
Tepeo's Early Grant Match
To bridge the gap until the BUS extension goes live, Tepeo is running its own "early grant match": a £2,500 discount funded directly by Tepeo for eligible households, bringing the effective unit price down from £6,000 to £3,500 before installation costs. This is a promotional offer from Tepeo rather than a government scheme, so check the current terms directly with Tepeo before budgeting around it.
In practice, most households will currently access the £2,500 saving through Tepeo's own offer rather than the government scheme, at least until the Boiler Upgrade Scheme extension formally opens.
Am I Eligible for the Grant?
Tepeo lists the following as its guide criteria for grant-eligible homes:
- An existing wet central-heating system with radiators or underfloor heating
- Annual heating and hot water demand of roughly 12,000 kWh or less
- Daily heat demand of around 60 kWh or less
- Whole-home heat loss of around 5 kW or less
- A hot water cylinder, or space to install one, since the ZEB doesn't heat water for a combi-style setup on its own
- Suitable indoor space for the unit (598 x 660 x 980mm, 375kg) and a suitable electrical supply (9kW rated input)
- Access to an off-peak or time-of-use electricity tariff, so the unit can charge overnight when electricity is cheapest
Tepeo doesn't publish an EPC or income requirement, but final eligibility is confirmed through a free home survey rather than the online checker alone, so treat the online result as indicative until a surveyor has been out.
Tepeo ZEB Specifications
Spec | Value |
|---|---|
Usable thermal storage | 40 kWh |
Charge time | 4.5 hours |
Heat output | 15 kW |
Flow temperature range | 35°C – 80°C |
Noise level | 59 dB |
Dimensions | 598 x 660 x 980mm |
Weight | 375 kg |
Electrical supply required | 9 kW rated input |
ZEB vs Gas Boiler vs Heat Pump
Gas boiler | Tepeo ZEB | Air-source heat pump | |
|---|---|---|---|
Upfront unit cost | Typically lowest | £6,000 (£3,500 with current grant match) | Typically highest before grants |
Outdoor unit needed | No | No | Yes |
Radiator changes usually needed | No | No | Often, for best efficiency |
Running cost driver | Gas price | Electricity price, especially off-peak tariff | Electricity price, but higher efficiency per kWh |
Runs on fossil fuel | Yes | No | No |
The ZEB's running costs depend heavily on securing a cheap off-peak electricity tariff, since it does almost all of its charging overnight. Without one, running costs will sit closer to standard electric heating than to a heat pump's. Tepeo offers its own cost-and-carbon calculator to estimate savings against a specific home's current heating system.
Is the Tepeo ZEB Worth It?
The ZEB is best suited to homes that want to get off gas without the disruption of a heat pump retrofit — no outdoor unit, no radiator replacement in most cases, and a straightforward 1–2 day install. At £6,000 before any grant, it isn't cheap, but the £2,500 saving currently available through Tepeo's early grant match brings the entry cost closer to £3,500, which is competitive with other low-carbon heating options once installation is included.
Whether it's worth it for a specific property comes down to three things: whether the home's heat demand fits within Tepeo's guide limits, whether an off-peak electricity tariff is available to keep running costs down, and whether the household values the ZEB's smaller installation footprint over a heat pump's typically higher long-term efficiency. Getting a home survey and a personalised cost-and-carbon estimate from Tepeo is the only reliable way to answer that for an individual property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Tepeo ZEB heat hot water as well as radiators?
The ZEB heats a wet central-heating system (radiators or underfloor heating). If it's replacing a combi boiler, a separate hot water solution — such as a smart cylinder or compact heat battery — is needed alongside it.
Is the £2,500 grant guaranteed?
Not yet. The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme extension to heat batteries is expected from winter 2026 but hasn't formally opened. In the meantime, Tepeo is offering its own £2,500 early grant match to eligible households, which is a company promotion rather than a government grant.
Can I get a ZEB without an off-peak electricity tariff?
Yes, but running costs will be higher, since the ZEB is designed to charge overnight when electricity is cheapest. Access to an off-peak or time-of-use tariff is one of Tepeo's stated criteria for getting the most value from the system.