Scottish heat pump rollout needs urgent action

UK: Scotland’s leading plumbing and heating federation has raised concerns over the slow rollout of heat pumps after new figures reveal that fewer than 9,000 have been installed since 2019.

The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF), which obtained the figures under a freedom of information request from the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme and the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlord Loan Scheme, insists that urgent action is needed.

Fiona Hodgson, chief executive of the Plumbing and Heating Federation, SNIPEF’s new operating name, said: “While it is encouraging to see growing numbers of homeowners and landlords making the switch to clean heating solutions, the Scottish Government’s ambition of over one million homes converted to low or zero-emission heat by 2030 is simply not achievable under current conditions. 

“The data highlights the urgent need for clearer policy direction, greater financial certainty and stronger industry support,” she added.

The Federation has also raised serious concerns over the Home Energy Scotland scheme’s payment structure, which places a heavy financial burden on installers. Many installers must absorb substantial upfront costs, leading to cash-flow pressures and administrative challenges that threaten business sustainability, the group says.

“Installers are at the heart of Scotland’s green heating transition, but they need a stable, transparent funding framework to remain viable. Addressing cash-flow pressures and streamlining payments is critical to scaling up heat pump adoption at the pace required,” said Hodgson.

The call for action came on the day that a Confederation of British Industry report revealed that the UK’s net zero sector grew by 10% in 2024 and generated £83bn in gross value added.

Commenting on yesterday’s  Confederation of British Industry report that the UK’s net zero sector grew by 10% in 2024 and generated £83bn in gross value added, Hodgson said: “Today’s CBI report highlights the significant economic benefits of investing in the net zero economy. In Scotland alone, the sector contributes £9.1bn, 4.9% of the country’s total GV, and supports nearly one in 25 Scottish workers.”

However, she insisted that the financial strain of the transition should not fall solely on already stretched businesses facing mounting pressures, including the National Insurance hike.

Spark gap

The group maintains that the “significant disparity” between electricity and gas costs remains a major barrier to heat pump adoption and must be closed to drive consumer uptake and confidence

“Even with various funding schemes, the fundamental cost imbalance between electricity and fossil-fuel heating remains a deterrent for households. Closing the “spark gap” will require close coordination between Westminster and the devolved administrations,” Hodgson insisted.