The Future of Heat Pumps in the UK

As we, in the UK continue under the latest Government, towards net zero. There are few technologies that have captured our attention as much as the heat pump. Already long and extensively established across Europe, here in the UK heat pumps are fast becoming a popular and pivotal choice.

Awareness continues to rise, technology continues to improve and energy bills continue to increase, making this renewable heating solution critical for future years. As Government incentives increase, so does our awareness. We do however have a lot of catching up to do!

“Only 5.5% of surveyed UK homeowners currently heat their homes with an air- or ground-source heat pump – a figure that is among the lowest in Europe.”

Integral for heat pumps of the future is the Government´s Boiler Upgrade scheme or BUS. This scheme provides upfront grants to help households with the installation of low-carbon heating systems. Both homeowners and small businesses can receive up to £7,500 for installing air-source or ground-source heat pumps. This increase from the previous £5,000 level has already led to a noticeable rise in interest, with applications steadily climbing since the adjustment came into effect.

This financial support is complemented by other policy frameworks such as the Future Homes Standard, set to take effect from 2025, which requires all new build homes to be designed with a low carbon heating structure. However these incentives alone won’t be the belt and braces needed.

According to Mitsubishi Electric’s “Accelerating the Switch” report, 33% of UK homeowners say they would switch to a heat pump if electricity cost the same as or less than gas. But currently, electricity in the UK is often taxed or levied in ways that makes it more expensive.

Consistency and long term government incentives are crucial for the production, training and supply chains for heat pumps. The UK needs to scale up both installations and production if we are to meet our future planet goals.

Heating alone accounts for almost a third of our total greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing this huge figure is essential for meeting our environmental goals. Heat pumps, using renewable energy sources such as air, the ground or water, generate heat far more efficiently and cleanly than traditional methods. For every unit of electricity consumed, a heat pump can deliver up to three or four units of heat. When paired with renewable electricity, the carbon footprint of a heat pump system can be almost zero. Not only do we benefit with carbon-savings but this method of heating allows for energy security, reduced dependency on imported gas and lower operational costs.

So a no brainer it seems… Yet in Mitsubishi Electric’s “Accelerating the Switch” report, 80% of UK homeowners say they care about climate change, but only about 6% have already switched to heat pumps at the time of the report. The gaping gap between our desire to be green and our reluctance to switch, stems from installation costs, running-cost concerns, and infrastructure readiness.

Embracing heat pumps in new builds is relatively straightforward, but retrofitting our vast stock of existing houses represents one of the largest technical challenges. Many homes are older, have poor insulation, small radiators and electrical systems designed for gas boilers — all of which reduce the efficiency and comfort of heat-pump systems unless addressed. Retrofitting our homes is a huge hurdle, many of our homes were built long before modern systems existed.

Older homes, especially dating back to the 18th century have solid stone or brick walls with no cavity, windows are single glazed and chimneys are open. As with all homes and heating systems, much of the heat is lost through walls, roofs, and windows. This makes heat pump performance less effective.

Older systems are also part of a system with small radiators, and single pipe layouts. None of which are ideal for the lower flow temperatures of a heat pump.

Many industry groups are calling for a whole-home retrofit incentive scheme which would encourage an approach to allow insulation and heating upgrades to go hand in hand. This not only ensures the best performance from the technology but also maximises the carbon savings achieved. A co-ordinated approach will be the key to moving forward with the heat pump revolution.

To overcome these retrofit barriers, the industry is calling for:

● improved insulation and whole-home upgrades (not just heating systems),
● larger or different heat-distribution systems (e.g., oversized radiators, underfloor heating) to match lower-temperature flows from heat pumps
● upgraded electrical supply in some cases (e.g., to handle higher loads or control systems)
● coordinated installer training and support, including supply chain readiness.

The heat pump industry is growing at pace but can supply chain and workforce availability keep up with demand? The Heat Pump Association, HPA has estimated that we will need tens of thousands of trained engineers if we are to meet our targets. The report by Mitsubishi shows that installers do consider themselves ready with 93% of residential and commercial installers skilled and experienced to fulfil these targets.

Training initiatives are being rolled out across the country. Local colleges, manufacturers and trade bodies are developing consistent standards and quality assurances which are essential for maintaining public confidence.

In order for the UK to meet its target figure of 600,000 annual heat-pump installations by 2028 momentum is crucial. Stable Government policy, continued investment in skills and a spotlight on retrofitting is key.

As we progress towards a cleaner energy future with a resilient energy system, Heat pumps will be a defining feature in all our homes. Their ability to deliver efficient, low-carbon heating makes them fundamental to our net zero targets. Heat pumps will move from niche to mainstream, homes will become warmer and more energy efficient, and the UK will be taking a crucial step in its path towards saving the planet.