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How is the heat pump roll-out going in the UK? Data from the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) released in the summer found that we installed the lowest number of heat pumps per household across Europe last year – just 1.48 heat pumps per 1,000 households. At this rate it would take us 600 years to reach the 2050 target (of 27.2 million homes having a heat pump).
Since then we’ve seen the launch of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and a government spokesperson told The Telegraph that take-up is as expected, saying “We have had a significant number of applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme so far, in line with expectations given the scheme only opened to voucher applications in May.” But even with a BUS voucher, the cost is obviously going to be a deterrent to some households.
But there are other reasons for hesitancy, including preconceived ideas about the technology itself. So what are these preconceived ideas? An unscientific poll of people I know suggests that the main concerns are: they don’t look very nice, they are noisy, they only work in new houses, they won’t heat the house to a high enough temperature, the waiting lists are long and installation is very disruptive.
Installer shortage
One of the organisations addressing the shortage of trained installers is the newly formed Heat Pump Installers Network (HPIN) which opened an academy that will train 4,000 installers every year just last month. Then we have Viessmann launching an umbrella scheme called Viessmann Access, which will allow non MCS-accredited installers who want to fit ASHPs, the opportunity to offer access to government funding to their customers without the commitment of MCS membership.
Heat pump aesthetics
On the issue of how heat pumps look, Simon Roberts, founder of Heatio, had this to say on LinkedIn:
“Over the last few weeks, we have asked Heatio Energy Challange Group members what would stand in the way of switching to an Air Source Heat Pump. One piece of feedback we received over and over again was, “I am NOT having that in my back garden.” So aesthetics is going to be a problem we need to deal with. After speaking to the No 1 Heat Pump guru in the UK, Mr Graham Hendra, he advised that he had tested covers and has data to provide a well-designed cover that would not impact the system’s efficiency or performance. So with that In mind, what do we think of this? Would your customer go for something like this?”
Heat Pump Ready
Heatio is working alongside E.ON, Newcastle City Council, Northern Power Grid and Clean Air Ventures on one of the government’s Heat Pump Ready projects. Over the next six months, the companies will be developing the blueprint for installing 750 heat pumps in homes across Newcastle upon Tyne.
The project will include making use of technology, such as drones and digital lasers scanners, to carry out surveys on homes across the city – reducing the time taken and improving the accuracy of the data captured. This will help tackle several barriers to large scale heat pump roll-out, including any disruption caused during the process. We spoke to E.ON’s Charlotte Flowerdew, Project Lead, for an upcoming feature on elemental. Here’s a preview of what she said about the project: “Concerns around how they work, if they’ll work especially when it’s cold outside, if they’re affordable to run. In terms of the install process, the expectation that it is as simple as a gas boiler switch and no knowledge of the likely radiator or central heating system upgrades needed. This point particularly around the level of disruption involved is a known challenge. Knowing what to debunk and what education and support customers need will be a key part of any successful heat pump programme.”
The full feature will be published next week, so make sure you check out our website for more.
Also happening next week is the first in out autumn series of webinars, starting with a focus on decarbonising social housing – we’ll be discussing decarbonising heating, energy storage and much more, so do take a look at the line-up of free sessions and join us from 13th September.
