A heat pump takes the available energy from the ground or air around us, and through the refrigeration process, transfers that energy to heat and cool our buildings.

Heat pumps are increasingly recognised as a critical technology for heat decarbonisation, receiving increasing policy support worldwide and record sales growth last year. The lifetime cost of heat pumps is now cheaper than oil and gas for heating in several countries. Yet, they still meet only around 10% of the global heating need in buildings [1]. Not enough to reach our net zero carbon emissions by 2050 target.

So why has the uptake in the UK historically been so slow?

BARRIERS TO HEAT PUMP ADOPTION

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) cite what they consider to be the main barriers to adoption [2]. The primary barrier being affordability due to the high upfront cost. A domestic air source heat pump can cost between £7,000 to £13,000 including installation. Much higher than a typical gas boiler. Other factors cited are centred around consumer behaviour. They include a lack of awareness of systems and benefits, resistance to potential disruption during installation, a misconception that heat pumps are hard to install and use, and an unwillingness to change their heat demand and usage.

So public awareness and behaviour are critical barriers. This was also evidenced in the results of a survey by DG Cities [3], which found that many UK consumers have little knowledge of heat pump technology and are unaware of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants available to them. Almost 1 in 5 respondents said they had heard of them but don’t know what they are.

HOW CAN WE MAKE HEAT PUMPS DESIRABLE?

It goes without saying that, primarily, consumers need to know about the technology in the first place! The UK public needs more information to debunk myths and help people better understand how heat pumps work, the benefits, costs, and long-term payback.

Secondly, building trust and consumer confidence are essential in less mature markets so we can change the perception of a heat pump being an unfamiliar and potentially risky technology to a mainstream heating system option.

More visibility of heat pump adoption will help to normalise the technology and accelerate further uptake as people will feel more comfortable with making the transition once they can see it happening around them. People see Teslas and other EVs on the road every day. It’s quickly become ‘the norm’. But although approximately 43,000 heat pumps were installed in the UK last year, people don’t see them as they’re hidden away at the backs and sides of homes.

A handy new initiative from Nesta visitaheatpump.com is helping change that, enabling homeowners to sign up to see a heat pump in action in their local area and talk to owners about living with one.

But even with increased public information and desirability, the upfront cost is still a major barrier. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) will go some way in helping make heat pumps more affordable. Those with money will invest and take advantage of the grants. But at a time when inflation is high, there’s talk of a mild recession and people are watching their pennies, others simply cannot afford to.

The BUS and 0% VAT on energy-saving materials incentive implemented this year are not going far enough to alleviate the cost barrier. Policymakers need to further improve financial incentives and levies must be switched from electricity to gas to ensure the ongoing running costs remain much cheaper than fossil fuel heating systems.

To go back to the Tesla comparison – we’re currently at the Roadster stage. We need to get to (and much further beyond) the Model 3. We need to make heat pumps mainstream, and make them normal, transparent, simple, and affordable.

SO, CAN HEAT PUMPS BE SEXY?

Making heat pumps desirable is one thing. Making them sexy is a whole other challenge!

But if Twitter is anything to go by, then yes, heat pumps can be as sexy as George Clooney! Mike Fell, a social researcher at University College London’s Energy Institute who runs a website called pumpchic.com tweeted a whole thread of George Clooney photos with lookalike heat pumps! See the thread here.

On a serious note, in terms of design, heat pump manufacturers are continuously innovating to make them smaller, quieter, smarter, and slicker, so they are unobtrusive and even stylish in any outdoor space.

But if the heat pump is hidden out of sight at the back of the house, isn’t it important to think about what’s on display inside the house, i.e., the emitters?

HEAT PUMP RADIATORS