UK half-year heat pump installs down 22%
10th September 2026
UK: The number of retrofit heat pump installations in domestic properties in the UK in the first half of this year were 22% down on the first six months of 2025.
According to latest figures released by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the number of MCS-certified heat pump installations replacing fossil fuel systems in existing properties to the end of June 2026 was 20,895.
This is despite a general upward trend in the annual number of retrofit heat pump installations. The 52,263 installations in 2025 was up 9% on 2024 and over 4.5x higher than five years ago.
“A 22% fall in heat pump installations in the first half of this year is a clear signal that we need to tackle the consumer proposition, not simply promote the technology harder, commented Swetta Coopamah, head of smart energy systems at BEAMA, the trade association for manufacturers and providers of electrotechnical and energy infrastructure technologies and systems.
Coopamah maintains that if government wants heat pumps to become a mainstream choice, it needs to make the financial benefits of electrification much more tangible.
“That means tackling the relative price of electricity and gas, while making it easier for households to benefit from smart tariffs and flexibility. Consumers need to be able to see the value in pounds and pence, not just in efficiency ratings or carbon savings,” she said.
Sachin Vibhute, technical consultant and product training manager at heat pump manufacturer LG, sees it differently: “The 22% drop in heat pump installations from the same period last year is indicative of the growing gap between public enthusiasm and the sector’s ability to meet demand.
“The reduction of installations should raise concerns about an implementation bottleneck,” he added. “To ensure that the rate of installations can keep pace, investment in training and skills must grow in parallel with demand.”
At 99%, the majority of retrofit heat pump installations in 2026 up to the end of Q2 were of air-to-water heat pumps. The largest proportion of these installations took place in the south east (18%), followed by the south west (14%) and the east of England (13%).
