Heat Pump Association Applauds EoH Report on Heat Pump Expansion in the UK

The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has endorsed the Electrification of Heat Demonstration (EoH) report funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The report assesses the feasibility of a large-scale rollout of heat pumps across diverse UK homes, with a focus on performance and consumer feedback.

Key findings reveal significant advancements in heat pump technology since 2017. The study observed 742 installations, noting that Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) achieved a median Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) over 10% higher than previous benchmarks, achieving an average efficiency of 293% compared to 84% for traditional fossil fuel systems.

Charlotte Lee, HPA Chief Executive, praised the report: “I am encouraged by the findings, showcasing heat pumps as efficient, scalable solutions for decarbonising heat in UK properties.”

The report also highlights innovations such as improved refrigerants (R290 and R32), low design temperatures, and weather compensation, contributing to the increased efficiency and deployment potential of heat pumps.

Despite a limited sample size for ground source heat pumps, additional DESNZ-funded research from 2017 to 2022 confirmed performance improvements, with 33% of GSHPs and 8% of ASHPs reaching SPF 3.5 or above.

The HPA is addressing the gap between design SCOPs and in-situ SPFs by updating its MCS 031 standard. The report calls for government action on electricity-gas price ratios to boost heat pump adoption.

Read the Electrification of Heat Reports in full here.