Vaillant and OVO have launched a new partnership to reduce heat pump running costs to 15p per kWh to homes across the UK.
Vaillant’s new partnership with OVO means that homeowners with a Vaillant aroTHERM or aroTHERM plus heat pump and an internet gateway such as the myVAILLANT connect, will now be able to access OVO’s new deal, Heat Pump Plus.
This new type of use add-on will make heat pumps cheaper to run on average by £495 per year, a statement said.
The companies stated that homeowners will have two separate rates, one for their heat pump, and one for the rest of their household energy usage, benefitting those households for making the switch to low carbon heating technology. Both new and existing Vaillant customers with an aroTHERM or aroTHERM plus air source heat pump, and an internet gateway such as the myVAILLANT connect can access the new rate.
From Vaillant’s own research into the installer appetite for upskilling to install heat pumps, it found that over 70% of installers considered heat pumps to be too expensive for consumers. Combined with further research, 52% of the UK would want to replace their gas boiler if they could afford to do so, and 75% say they would make the switch with a roughly 50% reduction in running costs.
Overall, the interest in low carbon technology is growing. The research revealed that 26% of people in the UK want to install a heat pump more now than they did one year ago, with 32% stating it’s because operating costs are going down, while 45% of the country think government support makes it more appealing.
Henrik Juhl Hansen, managing director UK & Ireland, Vaillant, said: “Having invested in low carbon technology for more than 25 years, our commitment to decarbonising UK homes remains strong.
“Since the launch of our heat pump line in 2022, making Vaillant the first boiler company to manufacture heat pumps in the UK, we continue to develop our business supporting the growing demand in this low carbon technology, through our installer training and expanding our manufacturing sites in the Derbyshire area.
“Through our investments in sustainable heating technologies, we are able to collaborate with OVO and are proud to be launching this new partnership making heat pumps more affordable across the UK. This new proposition will change the landscape for business, and consumers looking at decarbonising their home heating.”
Mat Moakes, chief commercial officer at OVO, said: “The UK is trailing far behind Europe on its heat pump installations. Yet our data shows that when paired with innovative tariffs to reduce the cost, alongside the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the uptake increases while rewarding early adopters. We need to see more progress to decarbonise heating and our new partnership with Vaillant is an exciting step to make heat pumps more attractive for thousands more households.”