Heat pump deployment gains momentum in UK and US
The Heat Pump Association UK has issued recommendations urging the British government to provide clear regulatory frameworks, targeted funding and formal recognition for low‑carbon heat networks, including shared ground loops and ambient systems. It warns that without such policies the sector will struggle to expand from about 3% of heating demand today to the target of 20% by 2050, a seven‑fold increase that could deliver up to £1.57 bn of annual energy system savings.
In the United States, heat pumps are rapidly approaching parity with fossil‑fuel furnaces. A 2024 report shows they appear in 46% of newly built homes and first‑quarter shipments were 32% higher than furnace shipments. Sales have roughly doubled over the past 15 years, driven by their dual heating‑cooling capability, higher efficiency, lower operating costs and available tax incentives, accelerating the shift toward electrified residential heating.