Improvement in heat pump performance highlighted by new report

The Heat Pump Association has welcomed the publication of the Electrification of Heat Demonstration (EoH) report, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This comprehensive study sought to explore the feasibility of a large-scale rollout of heat pumps across the UK, primarily focusing on evaluating their suitability for a wide range of homes and capturing customer feedback.

Key findings from the report indicate advancements in heat pump technology and performance since 2017. The EoH project monitored 742 heat pump systems installed across a range of dwelling types and ages, providing valuable insights into their effectiveness in different environments. Notably, the median Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) for Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) surpassed previous benchmarks improving by over 10% compared to previous installations, highlighting improvements in efficiency compared to 2017 levels. Additionally, compared to a typical fossil fuel heating system efficiency of 84%, the report highlights an average of 293% efficiency for the sampled ASHPs.

The report underscores the suitability of all property house types and ages for heat pump installation, dispelling any notion of limitations based on housing characteristics. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of electricity-gas price ratios in driving the adoption of heat pumps, further highlighting the role of policy and market dynamics in accelerating deployment and the importance of immediate Government action to tackle the price of electricity compared to gas.

Unfortunately, the number of ground source heat pumps installed in the EoH trial was not statistically sufficient to draw any conclusions. However, an additional DESNZ funded data study of in-situ Heat Pump Performance Analysis of 1,717 installations in 2017–2022 also published today, found evidence of heat pumps performing well. The average GSHP SPF had improved by 10% from 2017 to 2022, and exactly one third (33%) of GSHPs and 8% of ASHPs were performing at SPF 3.5 or above.

This report noted a gap between average design SCOPs and average in-situ SPFs, and to address this, the HPA has been working with the MCS Heat Pump technical working group to update its standard MCS 031 “Heat Pump Pre-sale heat pump performance calculation”, which was released yesterday.

Importantly, the report also acknowledges variations in performance attributable to factors such as the type of heat pump installed, consumer behaviour, and installation design. Addressing these variations will be essential for ensuring optimal performance across all installations.

The Heat Pump Association remains committed to collaborating with industry stakeholders to drive further advancements in heat pump technology and deployment, to facilitate the transition to net zero homes and decarbonised heating across the UK.

Read the Electrification of Heat Reports in full here.