The Scottish Government published its response to the recommendations of the Heat Pump Sector Deal Expert Advisory Group on 11 November 20221. The publication follows the group's final report, which was published in December 2021 and set out recommendations on the potential scope of a Heat Pump Sector Deal for Scotland1.
The Expert Advisory Group was convened in October 2020, bringing together stakeholders from across industry to advise Scottish Ministers on the scope of a potential sector deal and to identify the actions needed to develop a high volume heat pump supply chain in Scotland1. The government's response document addresses the recommendations made in the group's final report1.
The ministerial foreword states that Scotland currently has around 4,000 heat pump units installed annually, describing this as a strong foundation but one that must be scaled up rapidly to meet the ambitions set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy1. The foreword also refers to the Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan, which sets out the government's vision for a Green Heat sector providing zero emissions heat to properties with high thermal performance at a price affordable to consumers1.
"Although we currently have a strong foundation, with around 4000 units installed annually, achieving our ambitions set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy will mean we must scale up and accelerate the deployment of zero emission heating systems at a rapid pace."
The response document is structured around 15 numbered recommendations, each with its own section, plus a ministerial foreword and footnotes1. The foreword is signed by Patrick Harvie MSP, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights1. The publication was issued by the Energy and Climate Change Directorate and the Economic Development Directorate, and carries the ISBN 97818052516821.
The response does not, in the material published, set out a timetable for a formal Heat Pump Sector Deal, nor does it state new installation targets or funding figures. Those details have not been reported in the published response1.
Why it matters for households
Heat pumps are described by the Scottish Government as one of the key strategic technologies required to support the transition to Green Heat in Scotland1. For households, the pace at which the supply chain develops affects how quickly installers, equipment and skills become widely available across the country. The government's own figure of around 4,000 units installed annually gives a measure of the current market size against which any future expansion would be judged1.
The response signals that the Scottish Government intends to work with industry on the supply chain rather than setting out a standalone deal at this stage. The practical consequences for a home's energy independence depend on decisions that have not yet been reported, including any future scheme design, eligibility rules or support levels. Households considering a heat pump, or waiting for one, have no new confirmed dates or entitlements from this publication alone1.
What happens next
The response document sets out the government's position on each of the 15 recommendations in turn1. No further dated steps are given in the published material. The Heat in Buildings Strategy and the Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan are referenced as the wider policy context, but the response does not attach dates to specific actions arising from the recommendations1.