Heat Pumps in the UK
Are Heat Pumps the Right Solution?
A heat pump, in simple terms, is a device that transfers heat from a source (such as the heat of the soil in the garden) to another location (like the hot-water system of a house). To do this, heat pumps, as opposed to boilers, use a small amount of electricity but they often achieve a 200-600% efficiency rate, as the amount of heat produced is markedly higher than the energy consumed.
At least to some extent, their efficiency and cost explain why they have become a popular choice in the UK in recent years. They are effective alternatives to fossil fuels and they can significantly reduce your utility bills, or better yet, make you earn money through the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Heat pumps play also an important part in reaching the ambitious UK’s 2050 Net Zero target. With an expected 19 million heat pump installations in new homes by 2050, their role in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions at a domestic and national level has drastically increased. According to a survey by the Heat Pump Association, it is anticipated that the surge of heat pump demand will almost double in 2021. With the new heat and buildings strategy coming up, it is expected to further increase the installations of various heat pumps as a low carbon heating solution. The UK government announced that the VAT on energy efficient measures will be scrapped starting April 2022.
The International Energy Agency, in their latest special report, stresses that no new gas boilers should be sold after 2025 if Net Zero targets need to be achieved by 2050. Heat pumps are expected to be a better, low-carbon alternative to heating homes in the foreseeable future.
However, when considering the purchase of a heat pump, there are numerous factors to take into account, like the location of your home and whether you want them to heat domestic hot water or provide heating. On top of that, other aspects like the heat pump supplier, the size of your garden, and your budget also influence what type of system is the most suitable for your profile: air source, ground source, or water source.
Post time: Jun-15-2022