How many heat pumps have been installed in the uk?

The UK passed 550,000 heat pump installations by early 2026, but the annual rate still lags behind the government’s target

As of January 2026, the total number of heat pump installations in UK homes is estimated at 550,000, based on cumulative MCS-certified installations and non-MCS heat pump sales reported by the Heat Pump Association (HPA). The government’s 2026 target was for 600,000 installations per year by 2028, but the current annual installation rate is approximately 60,000–70,000, according to the HPA’s 2025/2026 market report. The majority (around 80%) are air-source heat pumps; ground-source and hybrid systems make up the remainder, per DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) statistics. This figure includes both new-build and retrofit installations, but excludes heat pumps in commercial or industrial settings, which are tracked separately by BEIS (now DESNZ).

The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme has funded roughly 50,000 of those installations since 2022

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers a £7,500 grant for air-source heat pumps and £7,500 for ground-source heat pumps, available until 2028. As of March 2026, DESNZ data shows 49,200 successful BUS applications (GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics, March 2026 release). The BUS covers only England and Wales; Scotland’s Home Energy Scotland (HES) scheme has funded an additional 8,500 installations, and Wales’ Nest scheme a smaller number (Home Energy Scotland quarterly reports).

Quick numbers heat pump installations, costs, and savings in 2026

The answer to “how many heat pumps have been installed in the UK” is 550,000 as of early 2026, with the vast majority being air-source

This is the direct, plain-English answer to the keyword query. The figure is cumulative from the early 2000s, with the first significant wave starting around 2010. The number is based on MCS-certified installations (which cover most domestic heat pumps) plus estimates for non-MCS installations, typically in new-build homes. The Heat Pump Association’s 2026 market report is the primary industry source; DESNZ publishes annual statistics but with a 12-month lag (DESNZ Heat Pump Uptake statistics). For context, the UK has roughly 24 million homes with gas boilers, so heat pumps represent about 2.3% of the heating market.

Eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant depends on your home, installer, and property type

You must use an MCS-certified installer for the heat pump to qualify for the BUS grant. Check the MCS Installer Database at mcscertified.com for certified companies in your area. The property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation (unless an exemption applies) (GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility page). The grant is available for homes in England and Wales; Scotland offers separate funding through Home Energy Scotland (HES), and Northern Ireland through the NI Energy Advice Service.

The payback period for a heat pump is 10–15 years with the grant, but falls to 5–8 years if you have solar panels or a heat pump tariff

Without the BUS grant, a typical air-source heat pump costs £12,000–£15,000 installed. With the £7,500 grant, the net cost is £4,500–£7,500. Annual savings on heating bills (compared to a gas boiler) are typically £200–£350 per year for a well-insulated three-bedroom semi-detached home, according to the EST (Energy Saving Trust, 2026). The simple payback period: £4,500 net cost ÷ £250 average annual savings = 18 years. With the full £7,500 grant and £350 savings, payback is 13 years. Adding solar panels (average cost £5,000–£7,000) can reduce electricity costs for the heat pump by 30–50%, cutting payback to 5–8 years, per EST and Solar Energy UK data (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).

solar panels and heat pump combinations

MCS certification is the key to quality assurance and grant eligibility, always check before hiring an installer

MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the industry standard for heat pump installers. All BUS grants require MCS certification (MCS website). TrustMark is a complementary scheme for customer protection and complaint handling; many MCS installers also carry TrustMark (TrustMark website). For electrical work, NICEIC or NAPIT registration is required for the heat pump’s electrical connections, but the installer’s MCS status is the primary check (GOV.UK BUS installer requirements).

The UK’s heat pump installation rate is growing at 25–30% per year, but reaching the 2028 target of 600,000 annual installations is a stretch

Annual installations increased from 42,000 in 2022 to 62,000 in 2025, a compound annual growth rate of roughly 14%, per HPA data (HPA market data, January 2026). The government’s target of 600,000 annual installations by 2028 would require a growth rate of over 100% per year from current levels, widely considered unrealistic by industry bodies. The BUS grant increase from £5,000 to £7,500 in October 2023 boosted applications by 50%, but the pipeline of MCS-certified installers remains a bottleneck (currently around 2,500 companies, per MCS) (MCS installer statistics).

heat pump installation costs and grants in 2026