Written by:
Sayeed Anwar
UK households are open to adopting heat pumps, but significant barriers around knowledge, trust and installer training could make it harder to translate that appetite into widespread heat pump adoption, new research reveals.
The findings come from the first Domestic Decarbonisation Index from leading SaaS and managed services provider Correla, based on research conducted among 2,000 UK households and 500 heat pump installers and HVAC engineers.
The UK government is targeting 450,000 heat pump installations per year by 2030 in line with its 2050 net zero ambitions, and the research highlights a clear appetite amongst homeowners. 88% surveyed say they are open to installing a heat pump or switching to low-carbon heating solutions. However, the findings point to a number of barriers that could prevent that openness translating into action. This includes those faced by the installers themselves.
Almost all installers surveyed (99%) say they face barriers around training on heat pump technology, including time constraints, the complexity of the technology and a lack of skilled trainers. More than a third (37%) say their understanding of heat pump cost-effectiveness could be improved through additional training.
Consumer trust and understanding also remain major hurdles. More than four-in-five UK homeowners surveyed (86%) do not believe the government will be impartial about the long-term impact of heat pumps, while 82% say they have no faith in the advice of home heating companies about the performance of heat pumps and their impact on finances.
Despite these barriers, there are encouraging signs. 59% of households that have installed a heat pump report saving money, while a further 18% say their costs are roughly the same as their previous heating system, supporting a positive case for the technology.
“It is time to tackle the barriers holding back wider adoption of heat pump technology,” said Jason McLeod, Chief Product Officer, Correla. “It’s encouraging that homeowners are willing to make the switch to heat pumps. The challenge is turning that willingness into action.”
“The government has a pivotal role to play through the provision of easily understood, trustworthy information alongside clear incentives that inspire trust and commitment among consumers. But the industry also needs the skills and capacity to deliver. Giving installers access to the right training, information and tools will be critical as demand grows.”
With its coverage of opinion from consumers and installers across the UK, the research shows that accelerating domestic decarbonisation will require action on both sides of the market: giving consumers the confidence to make the switch, while ensuring installers have the training and support needed to deliver it.
To find out more, download the Correla Domestic Decarbonisation Index here.
About Correla
Correla’s mission is to power change across the energy sector by making easier, faster and more cost-effective for society to participate in a low-carbon energy system. Correla combines deep industry knowledge with the ability to design, build and run software that simplifies the energy market and helps low-carbon installers scale to meet the extraordinary regulatory and consumer demand. With access to unique market data and a strong track record of delivering solutions at scale, Correla solves problems others cannot.
