Heat Pump Installations Slow Despite Previous Growth
Installations of heat pumps in the UK increased by only 7% last year, a significant decline from a 56% surge in 2024. This slowdown raises concerns about the government's climate change objectives.
The UK's independent climate advisory body released these figures on Wednesday as part of its assessment of the nation's progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The decrease in heat pump sales follows the government's decision to end a controversial grant scheme aimed at assisting low-income households in installing this technology. Heat pumps offer a way to reduce emissions by heating homes with electricity rather than gas.
Carbon Emissions and Home Heating Challenges
Overall carbon emissions in the UK continue to decline, placing the country among a "leading group of countries," according to the advisors. However, slow progress in decarbonizing home heating threatens the achievement of future emissions targets.
Almost 20% of the UK's emissions result from residential heating. Currently, most households rely on gas boilers, but the government aims to transition the majority to heat pumps, which operate on electricity that can be sourced from renewable energy such as solar and wind.
Heat pumps remain costly for many households. The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides a £7,500 grant toward installation, yet this often leaves households with over £2,500 in remaining expenses.
Previously, the government offered the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which fully funded heat pumps for lower-income homes. This program was discontinued following reports of faulty installations.
Approximately 30,000 homes were affected by poor insulation installations.
The Committee on Climate Change and industry representatives have called for a new grant system and measures to reduce operational costs.
"This transition in our homes is no different to the ones we've had before. Fresh running water in homes, indoor sanitation, central heating, heat pumps. It's just another transition. We have to find a way to make it affordable. And that's the government job," said Bean Beanland, former director of the Heat Pump Association.
The UK faces some of the highest electricity bills in Europe, partly due to network upgrades and energy bill charges.
Electric Vehicle Sales Continue to Rise
In contrast to heat pumps, electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to grow rapidly, indicating a likely replacement of petrol and diesel cars in the near future on UK roads.
Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, commended the progress in greener transport.
"We've made big progress on things like electric vehicles, where one in four cars being bought in the UK today is now an EV."
She attributed the accelerated growth partly to the Iran fuel crisis, which caused significant increases in petrol and diesel prices, motivating consumers to explore alternatives.
"We can see in the numbers what people want - cheap cars and cars that will save them money, particularly as fossil fuels are volatile," she said.
However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) stated that much of this demand was driven by substantial discounts from car manufacturers.
"This has cost the industry more than £10 billion since 2024 – an unsustainable amount when that money should be going into R&D, manufacturing and the workforce," said Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT.
The SMMT supported the government's proposal to weaken the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) mandate, which sets targets for EV production and penalties for non-compliance.
The UK Climate Change Committee disagreed, urging the government to maintain the policy.
Personal Experience with Electric Vehicles
Nicholas Theobald, a London resident, switched to a second-hand EV earlier this year due to concerns over petrol prices.
"It seemed like the right thing to do we just [had] this whole feeling of being dependent upon fossil fuel countries," he said. "I did have anxieties that, oh, we're going to have to charge all the time but my experience in the last five months I've been astonished at how easy it is."
He noted, however, that lacking access to a home charger and relying on public charging stations increased his costs significantly—up to ten times higher than home charging.
Broader Climate Change Challenges and Government Response
The Committee highlighted several other issues, criticizing the government for slow action in sectors such as agriculture and aviation, which could jeopardize future emissions targets.
The advisors emphasized the critical importance of reducing emissions to mitigate the UK's contribution to climate change.
This week, parts of the UK are under a red alert for extreme heat, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C.
The Met Office has stated that such extreme temperatures are increasingly likely and frequent due to climate change.
Additional reporting by Mark Poynting and Becky Dale.
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