Heat pumps could learn lessons from Solar PV

UK: The UK heat pump sector could learn lessons from the success of solar PV in becoming the most widely adopted microgeneration technology, a new report claims.

Domestic heating contributes 17% of the UK’s emissions, and yet the deployment of heat pumps is off-track, with ten-fold growth required within four years to meet climate targets, a new report by MCS and The MCS Foundation argues.  

The report – What can the heat pump sector learn from solar? – maps the development of solar PV in the UK, looking at its successes and failings to identify lessons that can be applied to the heat pump sector.

Key drivers to adoption include a need for policy stability, a close consultation with industry, product efficiency innovations and economic incentives.

The findings are based on a variety of real-world experiences from expert stakeholders across the solar and heat pump sectors, with recommendations based on insights by industry, for industry.    

“While we know that heat pumps and solar panels are two very different technologies, there are lessons that can be learned from the enablers and barriers to solar PV deployment. This report identifies those learnings to make policy recommendations and ultimately accelerate the heat pump market to meet key net zero targets,” commented MCS technical manager Lucy McKenzie.

“Heat pumps are the only viable technology for decarbonising heating at scale, yet despite recent progress, heat pump deployment in the UK is far off track,” added David Cowdrey, acting chief executive at the MCS Foundation.  

“Accelerating the deployment of small-scale renewables is possible, with clear and consistent policy. Taking lessons from the success of solar, the government must ensure that consumers both know that heat pumps are the right choice financially, and have access to advice to support them on their heat pump journey.”