Heat pump sales in 11 European countries rose 17% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to data from the European Heat Pump Association. Around 575,000 units were sold from January to March 2026, compared with 494,000 in Q1 2025.
Sales of residential heat pumps increased by an average of 25% in France, Germany and Poland. The period includes the weeks after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on 2 March, which the source said pushed up gas and oil prices.
The strongest increase among the listed countries was in Finland, where sales rose 48% to 26,324 units. Germany increased 34% to 83,258 units, France rose 21% to 301,910 units, and Poland increased 20% to 17,420 units.
Austria recorded the largest decline, with sales down 30% to 8,443 units, linked in the source to the lack of government subsidies. Sales also fell in the Netherlands by 14%, Denmark by 8%, Norway by 1% and Sweden by 1%.
National experts cited several factors affecting demand, including subsidy schemes, energy prices and concerns over energy security. The data covers different heat pump categories by country, including air-to-water, air-to-air, ground-source, domestic hot water, VRF, hybrid air-to-water and exhaust air systems.
“If your streaming service doubled its price then blocked its movies you’d find a better one. Consumers have realised heat pumps are the solution when gas and oil are erratic in price and supply. The EU Commission has outlined important steps to help people get a heat pump in its energy crisis plan, from VAT and tax reductions to supporting social leasing for poorer households. EU governments must rapidly enact what they can,” said Paul Kenny, European Heat Pump Association Director General.
