UK heat pump sales down in Q1
11th June 2026
UK: The total number of retrofit heat pump installations in the UK was down 18% in Q1 2026, compared to the previous quarter, and 22% down compared to the same period in 2025.
The latest figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) shows that installations of hydronic heat pumps with a capacity up to 45kW in Q1 was 10,693. While down on the same period last year, the number of retrofit installations in Q1 this year are more than double the same period five years ago.
The majority of retrofit heat pump installations in 2026 were air-to-water units. These totalled 10,625 – 99% of total installations.
The figures are largely based on the number of retrofit installations with government funding under the MCS certification as well as those that are self-funded. Installations of heat pumps with a thermal output larger than 45kW and the majority of installations in new-build properties are not included.
The largest proportion on retrofit heat pump installations in Q1 took place in the south east (18%), followed by the south west (14%) and the east of England (13%).
London has seen the biggest growth in the number of retrofit heat pump installations over the last five years, albeit from a low base. Its total of 507 installations is a 624% increase on the same quarter five years ago.
Sachin Vibhute, technical consultant and product training manager at LG Electronics, warned that the latest figures should act as a red flag. “Whilst boiler upgrade scheme applications continue to grow steadily, deployments are falling – this could point to a bottleneck developing in the installation of heat pumps,” he said. “What we can’t estimate is how much more rapidly the market could have scaled given greater investment into skills and training.
“Policy stability aligned with continued investment to develop skills and provide greater training is needed to help this market scale at a faster pace, fuelling both the economy and clean energy ambitions.”
