The UK government has a target of 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. Ryan Willdig, renewable heating specialist at Heatforce, discussed five points as to why he doesn’t think the UK will be able to hit this target.
We, of course, want the UK to purchase and invest more in heat pumps and this will hugely help the nation hit Net Zero. However, the current pace, policy, infrastructure and skills we have in the UK just aren’t aligned to deliver this new target.
National skill shortage
There aren’t enough tradespeople in the UK trained to install heat pumps, and we need trained professionals to fit them. It’s a different speciality compared to conventional boilers, and this sort of training will take a lot of time.
Without a nationwide effort to train and certify thousands of engineers, we simply won’t be able to hit the target by the set date, as there won’t be enough people to install these into people’s homes and businesses.
Public awareness remains low
If you’re not working in the sustainability or heat pump industry, then it’s unlikely you’ll know what a heat pump is, the benefits, or how they work.
Misinformation and confusion are everywhere, and until there’s a mass education effort and awareness of the importance of heat pumps and the benefits, then the British public will stick to what they know – non-renewable fuels.
Upfront costs can be high
Despite the British government offering grants like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the initial cost of a heat pump is still a lot higher than a normal boiler.
The UK is in midst of a major cost-of-living crisis, but the outlay remains prohibitively expensive. A lot of people will still choose a boiler, despite the potential economic benefits and savings in the long-run.
Infrastructure isn’t ready
While a lot of new properties may be built with the expectation of heat pumps being installed, many older properties will need insulation upgrades or radiator replacements to make heat pumps work efficiently.
Without more funding these homes will be left behind as the initial costs are high.
Mixed messaging from government
The delay in a fossil fuel boiler ban is consistently changing, and energy policies have created uncertainty among the public. Installers don’t want to invest and commit to promoting heat pumps whilst homeowners aren’t incentivised to commit to the investment.
Heatforce believes the UK can still get close to its 2028 goal, but only with serious investment in training, awareness, infrastructure and policy alignment.
While hitting the figure isn’t very achievable right now, it can be with additional support. It won’t happen by accident. The public wants lower bills and greener homes, we just need to clear the path for them and bring clarity and understanding about heat pumps.