The report provides critical insights into the feasibility of a large-scale rollout of heat pumps across the UK, monitoring 742 systems installed in diverse dwelling types and ages.
Key findings indicate significant advancements in heat pump technology and performance since 2017. The report highlights a 10% improvement in the median Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) for Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) compared to earlier installations. With an average efficiency of 293%, ASHPs outperformed typical fossil fuel systems, which achieve approximately 84% efficiency.
Driving decarbonisation with innovation
Charlotte Lee, chief executive of the HPA, commented: “I am encouraged by the findings of the Electrification of Heat report’s results, which demonstrate improvements in heat pump performance and highlight their potential as an efficient, effective, scalable solution for decarbonising heat in all property types across the UK.
“This report demonstrates the ongoing investment in research and development within the sector and reinforces the commitment to driving further advancements to enhance heat pumps’ role in achieving our net-zero ambitions.”
The report also underscores innovations like advanced refrigerants (R290 and R32), low design temperatures, weather compensation, and mechanical design enhancements, all contributing to the scalability of heat pump deployment.
Suitability across property types and policy impact
The findings confirm that heat pumps are suitable for all property types and ages, dispelling concerns about limitations related to housing characteristics. However, the report emphasises the importance of addressing electricity-to-gas price ratios to encourage adoption. It calls for immediate government action to reduce the cost disparity and accelerate deployment.
Although the EoH trial had insufficient data on ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) to draw broad conclusions, a DESNZ-funded study of 1,717 heat pump installations from 2017 to 2022 revealed a 10% improvement in GSHP SPFs during that period. Additionally, 33% of GSHPs and 8% of ASHPs in the study achieved an SPF of 3.5 or above.
Optimising heat pump performance
The report highlights performance variations based on factors such as consumer behaviour, installation design, and heat pump type. To address these gaps, the HPA has worked with the MCS Heat Pump technical working group to update its MCS 031 ‘Heat Pump Pre-sale heat pump performance calculation’ standard, which was released yesterday.
The Heat Pump Association reiterated its commitment to advancing technology and collaborating with industry stakeholders to enable the transition to net-zero homes and decarbonised heating across the UK.
Image: HPA