Eco-tech company Hive and clean energy technology provider Aira have announced a long-term partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of heat pumps in the UK. The collaboration seeks to make heat pumps more affordable and accessible, contributing to the country’s energy transition goals.
Hive, known for its smart home solutions, has already helped over 2 million households reduce their energy consumption, cutting carbon emissions by 1.6 billion kilograms and saving customers over £490 million in energy costs. Aira, a direct-to-consumer clean energy brand, offers intelligent heat pumps with affordable monthly payment options and an industry-first 15-year Aira Guarantee.
The partnership will leverage Hive’s strong customer base and Aira’s advanced technology to expand the reach of heat pumps across the UK. Through Hive’s referral network, more homeowners will have access to Aira’s heat pumps, which can reduce heating costs by up to 29%.
According to recent figures, 60,000 heat pumps were installed in the UK in 2024 - a record high but still far from the government’s target of 600,000 installations per year by 2028. With around 25 million homes in the UK still relying on gas boilers, the push for cleaner heating solutions is critical.
Dan Rosenfield, Managing Director of Hive, highlighted the importance of the partnership:
“Our partnership with Aira brings together the best of British tech and innovative Scandinavian design to provide customers with more choice in how they electrify their home heating. Domestic heating is one of the largest emitters of carbon in the UK, which is why we’re collaborating with like-minded businesses to help customers make the switch to a lower-carbon future.”
Aira Group CEO Martin Lewerth emphasized the potential of heat pumps in the UK market:
“In some of the coldest parts of Europe, such as Scandinavia, heat pump technology has been widely used to heat homes for decades, and yet nations like the UK are still in the early stages of adoption. Building on Hive’s leadership in the smart home space, this partnership will help solidify heat pumps as a cleaner and more affordable heating solution for UK households, increasing awareness and accessibility – and ultimately supporting the clean-energy transition.”
The partnership coincides with recent UK policy changes, including the relaxation of planning permission restrictions for heat pump installations and increased funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which now has a £205 million budget for this financial year. These developments aim to encourage more homeowners to switch to air source heat pumps, aligning perfectly with the goals of Hive and Aira’s collaboration.