Residential heat pump sales increased by 11% in the first half of 2026 across 12 European countries, according to new figures from the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA). Around 1,163,000 units were sold, up from 1,048,000 in the first six months of 2025.
The data covers Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. EHPA said the rise followed Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026, which sent oil and gas prices sharply higher.
Soon afterwards, the European Commission published plans encouraging EU governments to reduce electricity taxes to accelerate the shift away from oil and gas. EHPA said these developments are likely drivers of heat pump sales growth and noted that heat pump uptake depends strongly on electricity prices.
The European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan states that tax on electricity should be no higher than tax on gas. It also proposes revising network charges on electricity bills to reward flexible options such as heat pumps. EHPA said its findings show electricity taxes are frequently higher than those on gas, making electricity several times more expensive.
“Europe is ending its addiction to a toxic, costly drug from dodgy suppliers – gas. The sooner electricity becomes the most affordable solution, the quicker we’ll get clean. The fix? Dropping taxes on electricity and shifting them over to fossil fuels. The European Commission has made this clear – but now all EU governments must enact it, following in the footsteps of the Netherlands and Belgium,” said Paul Kenny, EHPA director general.
