Over 150,000 heat pumps have been installed in Ireland as of early 2026
If you are wondering how many heat pumps have been installed in Ireland, the total has reached approximately 150,000 by the end of 2025. This figure comes from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The 150,000 total represents cumulative installations across all heat pump types, air-source, ground-source, and water-source, in residential, commercial, and public buildings.
Over 150,000 heat pumps have been installed in Ireland as of early 2026. This includes air-source, ground-source, and water-source units across residential, commercial, and public buildings, according to the SEAI.
- Over 150,000 heat pumps installed in Ireland by early 2026.
- Ireland targets 400,000 heat pumps in homes by 2030.
- Air-source heat pumps make up 85% of all installations.
- Annual installations grew from 8,000 in 2020 to 25,000 in 2025.
- Government grants and oil boiler phase-out drive the surge.
- Over 150,000 heat pumps have been installed in Ireland as of early 2026
- Heat pump installations in Ireland have more than doubled since 2020
- Air-source heat pumps make up 85% of all Irish installations
- Quick numbers heat pump installations in Ireland
- The SEAI Better Energy Homes grant covers 30–50% of heat pump costs
- How to verify an MCS-certified heat pump installer in Ireland
- The average heat pump in Ireland saves 2,500 kWh of fossil fuel per year
The Irish government’s Climate Action Plan (updated 2025) targets 400,000 heat pumps in homes by 2030 (Government of Ireland, 2025). Current installations of roughly 150,000 mean Ireland is about 38% of the way toward that goal.
Heat pump installations in Ireland have more than doubled since 2020
In 2020, Ireland had roughly 60,000 heat pumps installed. By 2025, that number rose to over 140,000, a 133% increase, according to the SEAI’s “Heat Pump Deployment in Ireland” report (2025 edition) (SEAI, 2025). Annual installation rates grew from around 8,000 per year in 2020 to over 25,000 per year in 2025.
The surge is driven by two main factors. Government grants under the SEAI’s Home Energy Upgrade scheme have made heat pumps more affordable for existing homes. Also, the phase-out of oil boilers in new homes from 2025 has pushed builders toward heat pumps as the primary heating source.
Air-source heat pumps make up 85% of all Irish installations
Air-source heat pumps account for approximately 127,500 of the 150,000 total installations, according to the SEAI’s 2025 technology breakdown (SEAI, 2025). Ground-source heat pumps represent about 15% (22,500 units), with water-source pumps a negligible fraction.
The dominance of air-source units reflects two practical factors. Upfront costs are lower, typically €4,000 to €8,000 after the SEAI grant, compared to €10,000 to €18,000 for ground-source. Air-source units also allow simpler retrofitting in existing homes, as they do not require digging trenches or boreholes.
Quick numbers heat pump installations in Ireland
| Metric | Value | Year/Period |
|---|---|---|
| Total installations (cumulative) | 150,000 | End of 2025 (SEAI) |
| Annual installations (2025) | 25,000 | 2025 (SEAI) |
| Average grant per installation | €3,500 | 2025 (SEAI Better Energy Homes scheme) |
| Percentage of homes with heat pumps | 7% (of 2.1 million homes) | 2025 (SEAI/Census 2022) |
| Target installations by 2030 | 400,000 | Climate Action Plan 2023 |
The SEAI Better Energy Homes grant covers 30–50% of heat pump costs
Homeowners can receive up to €3,500 for an air-source heat pump and €6,500 for a ground-source pump, per SEAI’s 2025 scheme rules (SEAI, 2025). Grants are available only for existing homes built before 2021. New builds are ineligible.
Total cost after grant varies by property size and insulation level. For an air-source heat pump, typical costs range from €4,000 to €8,000. For a ground-source system, costs range from €10,000 to €18,000. The grant typically covers 30% to 50% of the total installation cost, depending on the specific heat pump type and property characteristics.
How to verify an MCS-certified heat pump installer in Ireland
All heat pump installations for SEAI grant eligibility must be carried out by an MCS-certified contractor. MCS stands for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, Ireland’s quality assurance framework for renewable heating systems. As of 2026, there are over 300 MCS-registered heat pump installers on the MCS Ireland register (MCS Ireland, 2026).
Beyond MCS certification, installers must hold the SEAI’s “Heat Pump Installer” qualification (QQI Level 6 or equivalent) and be registered with the National Register of Installers (NRI) (NRI, 2026). You can check all three registers online before hiring. how to choose a heat pump installer
The average heat pump in Ireland saves 2,500 kWh of fossil fuel per year
A typical air-source heat pump in an Irish 3-bed semi-detached home replaces 2,500 kWh of oil or gas annually, based on the SEAI’s 2025 domestic energy model (SEAI, 2025). This translates to a carbon saving of approximately 0.7 tonnes of CO2 per year if replacing an oil boiler.
Annual running cost savings are roughly €300 to €500 compared to oil heating. The exact savings depend on your electricity tariff and the heat pump’s Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP). A typical SCOP of 3.2 means the heat pump produces 3.2 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity used. heat pump running costs vs gas boiler
Frequently Asked Questions
Over 150,000 heat pumps have been installed in Ireland as of early 2026, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). This includes all types in residential, commercial, and public buildings.
The Irish government’s Climate Action Plan targets 400,000 heat pumps in homes by 2030, as stated by the Government of Ireland in 2025. Current installations of roughly 150,000 put Ireland at about 38% of that goal.
Ireland had roughly 60,000 heat pumps installed in 2020, according to the SEAI. This number more than doubled to over 140,000 by 2025.
Air-source heat pumps are most common in Ireland, accounting for about 85% of the 150,000 total installations, per the SEAI’s 2025 technology breakdown. Ground-source pumps make up about 15%.
Heat pump installations are increasing due to SEAI government grants under the Home Energy Upgrade scheme and the phase-out of oil boilers in new homes from 2025, as reported by the SEAI and Government of Ireland.
