Europe’s heat pump market is showing signs of recovery following the slowdown in 2023 and 2024. Preliminary data from 13 EU member states indicate that sales increased to 2.34 million units in 2025, compared with 2.11 million units in 2024. Energy security concerns, higher gas prices and European Union climate policies continue to support adoption.
The European Commission considers heat pumps a central technology in Europe’s clean energy transition. The systems are estimated to be three to five times more energy efficient than gas boilers and can help reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Heating and cooling account for around 50% of total energy consumption in the EU.
The recovery continued in early 2026. In France, first-quarter sales of air-to-water heat pumps increased by 6.6%, while air-to-air unit sales rose by 25%. The European Heat Pump Association reported a 17% increase in overall heat pump sales during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Reversible heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling, allowing one system to support heating electrification and meet growing demand for space cooling. Globally, installed heat pump capacity increased by around 29% between 2019 and 2023, with China, the EU and the United States accounting for the largest shares.
High initial costs, differences between national policy frameworks and shortages of trained installers and technicians remain barriers to wider deployment. The European Commission launched the Heat Pump Accelerator Platform in 2025 to bring together policymakers, researchers and industry representatives, with a focus on deployment, consumer awareness, installer training and long-term policy support.
