Energy Systems Catapult published findings on 20 December 2022 from the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project, a study funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to test the feasibility of a large-scale heat pump rollout across Great Britain1. The project installed 742 heat pumps against a target of up to 750, after receiving 8,807 expressions of interest from households1. Three delivery contractors were appointed in June 2020: Warmworks in the South East of Scotland, E.ON in the North East of England, and OVO Energy in the South East of England1.
The project found heat pumps were suitable across a broad spectrum of housing types. Energy Systems Catapult stated:
"There is no property type or architectural era that is unsuitable for a heat pump."
Of the 742 installations, 41% were low temperature air source heat pumps, 33% were high temperature air source heat pumps, 21% were hybrid heat pumps, 1% were individual ground source heat pumps and 4% were shared ground source heat pumps2. The majority of homes where a heat pump was installed had an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or D1. Energy efficiency upgrades were made for only 15% of properties where a heat pump was installed, mostly loft insulation1.
Additional measures were common. 93% of homes required at least one radiator to be replaced, and 81% required a new thermal store such as a hot water tank2. A small number of homes, 33 flats, had a heat battery installed instead of a hot water tank due to lack of space, and 27 homes required measures to keep heat pumps within noise limits2. Average total cost per property was about £14,800, including the heat pump unit, additional measures and installation2.
The reports identified four barriers to adoption: practical space constraints, technical heating capacity constraints, economic cost of upgrades, and consumer concerns about installation1. Disruption was the main barrier reported by participants who decided not to proceed, cited by 47%1. A lack of external space for an outdoor unit was cited in 8% of cases where a heat pump was not recommended, with 2% lacking internal space for a thermal store or larger radiators1. For 4% of properties assessed, the cost of installation or additional measures such as insulation meant effective installation was deemed too expensive to proceed with1. Only 12% of properties surveyed were considered unfeasible on technical constraints2.
| Barrier | Share of properties affected |
|---|---|
| Disruption (participants who did not proceed) | 47% |
| No external space for outdoor unit | 8% |
| Too close to neighbours for noise limits | 5% |
| Heat pump larger than available products | 7% |
| Cost of installation or additional measures | 4% |
| No internal space for thermal store or radiators | 2% |
The project also reported that heat pump installations took on average two to four days to complete by a team of two installers and one electrician, excluding energy efficiency measures2. For properties where load checks were required by the local Distribution Network Operator, these sometimes took several months, delaying installations2.
Why it matters for households
The findings bear on whether a typical British home can move off gas heating and run on electricity instead, which is central to a household's energy independence. The project's conclusion that no property type or architectural era is unsuitable for a heat pump1 suggests suitability is rarely the deciding factor. The practical picture is more mixed: most homes needed at least one new radiator and a hot water cylinder2, and the average installed cost was about £14,8002. The project notes that bulk buying and economies of scale should reduce costs2. Space, noise limits and the cost of accompanying upgrades were the reasons a minority of properties could not proceed1. The reports also record that surveyors tended to be overly cautious in design assumptions, leading to over-sizing of heat pumps2.
What happens next
Energy Systems Catapult said scaling the rollout will require cross-sector innovation to reduce upfront costs and disruption1. The findings are intended to inform industry efforts towards the government aim of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 20281. The Heat Pump Ready Programme, funded by BEIS, is described as opening new doors for innovation in the sector1. The reports recommend reviewing design and installation requirements and installer certification, offering training for designers and installers, and standardising heating system design tools1. No further dated milestones beyond the 2028 target have been reported.