UK sales of heat pumps are predicted to almost double this year, according to The Heat Pump Association. The HPA represents around 95% of the heat pump market (by market share), and has surveyed its members to estimate the supply of heat pumps in 2021. This has revealed that orders are in place to deliver a total of 67,000 units in this year, representing nearly double the number of heat pumps on shelves and in warehouses ready for installation.
Last year, the Prime Minister laid out his Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution, which set out ambitions to roll out 600,000 heat pumps into homes per year by 2028 and the current growth closely aligns with the HPA’s roadmap to net zero, which called for 72,000 heat pump installations this year.
Phil Hurley, Chair of the Heat Pump Association, comments:“The near doubling of the heat pump market this year would be a substantial achievement at a time when the decarbonisation of homes and buildings is not just desired but essential; our members are committed to turning today’s forecast into a reality and have clearly backed this up with their advanced ordering. The estimation of 67,000 heat pumps in 2021 shows the confidence from members of the HPA in delivering the scale up of heat pumps that the Prime Minister’s Ten Point plan necessitates. This is just the beginning of a long journey ahead but we’re off to an incredibly promising start.”
Max Halliwell, HPA vice president, adds: “To meet the numbers needed set out by the government and to help reduce those residential heating emissions, it is essential the industry keeps extolling the benefit of heat pumps to as many people as possible and rapidly upskill installers to help us meet the growing demand and reduce the costs putting off many consumers.”
The HPA says it is committed to preparing and upskilling the installer base across the country so that they can recommend and deploy heat pumps at the scale net zero requires, while delivering long term benefits to customers across the country. Trained heat pump installers are a key part of the low carbon transition and must therefore be able and willing to access training. The Association outlined a new scalable route to becoming heat pump installer in its 2020 report: ‘Building the Installer Base for Net Zero Heating’.
