The Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project found that 85% of participants had already or, were likely to recommend a heat pump to a friend or family member, citing their “reliability”, “easy-to-use nature” and “low levels of noise”.
The Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project was funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and led by Energy Systems Catapult with support from LCP Delta and Oxford Computer Consultants.
According to a statement, the project sought to understand the technical and practical feasibility, and constraints of a mass rollout of heat pumps into British homes.
A total of 742 heat pumps were installed by the delivery contractors, including Warmworks, E.ON and OVO Energy, into a spectrum of housing types. There were 41% detached, 43% semi-detached, 11% mid-terrace, and 6% flats used in the project.
Heat pumps were installed in homes with varying Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings from A down to G. At least 53% of homes involved in the demonstration project had an energy efficiency rating of C or D before the heat pump installation.
Four different heat pump types were installed, Low Temperature Air Source (LT ASHP) 41%, High Temperature Air Source (HT ASHP) 33%, Ground Source (GSHP) 5%, and Hybrid 20%. These heat pumps were monitored throughout the trial to assess their performance.
The project found that a majority of heat pumps performed well, with efficiencies comparable to three times that of modern gas boilers. While even on cold days when temperatures fell to -6oC, only a marginal decline in system performance was reported.
Richard Halsey, innovation director at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “The findings of the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project are clear, when designed and installed well, heat pumps can be an effective low carbon heating solution, providing good consumer outcomes regardless of the property type or age. It is time to do away with the idea that they do not work in UK homes, this is simply untrue.”