Comment on heat pump consultation

Commenting on proposed changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced today [1], Jess Ralston, Energy Analyst from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: "This move would mean the UK's levels of support for installing heat pumps becomes more closely aligned to other nations, including lots of EU countries, the US and Australia. The rest of the world has been slowly ramping up heat pump deployment for some time, so much so that there are now 20 million installed in Europe and the US sold more heat pumps than gas boilers last year. It seems the Government has recognised we're falling behind, which is threatening our energy security, and wants to catch up with countries like Poland and Estonia, which have far higher numbers of heat pumps per person. This could also boost the UK's heating industry, which faces losing £65m worth of exports each year if we go slow on heat pumps.[2]

"Electric heat pumps reduce our reliance on gas, which has largely driven the cost of living and energy bill crisis over the past year or so, are three times more efficient than gas boilers and don't produce air pollution. Lowering the barrier of upfront cost means more households could install a heat pump and better shield themselves from the volatile prices of gas for good. Driving installations up will drive prices down and we’re already seeing companies like Octopus and British Gas offering heat pumps for less than £3,000"

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Boost to heat pump rollout with plans for cheaper and easier installation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-to-heat-pump-rollout-with-plans-for-cheaper-and-easier-installatio
2. UK could lose £65m exports each year if heat pump roll out is slow: https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2023/uk-could-lose-65m-exports-each-year-if-heat-pump-roll-out-is-slow

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net