MCS and The MCS Foundation have produced a new report, ‘What can the heat pump sector learn from solar?’, to understand what lessons can be learned and provide recommendations on how to accelerate heat pump deployment.
According to the report, MCS and The MCS Foundation said the growth of the solar PV sector offers lessons for accelerating heat pump deployment.
The report revealed that domestic heating contributes 17% of the UK’s emissions. MCS stated that the deployment of heat pumps is “off-track”, with “ten-fold growth” required within four years to meet climate targets. This contrasts with solar PV, it noted, which has become the “most widely adopted microgeneration technology in the UK”.
MCS said a variety of expert stakeholders from across the solar and heat pump sectors were interviewed as part of the research. This has ensured the findings are based on real-world experiences, it added, with recommendations that are based on insights by industry, for industry.
Lucy McKenzie, technical manager at MCS, said: “The transition to net zero is a massive undertaking. We want to ensure that industry is given all of the support that it needs to deliver high-quality renewables that drive up consumer confidence.
“That’s what this report sets out to do. While we know that heat pumps and solar panels are two very different technologies, there are lessons that can be learned from the enablers and barriers to solar PV deployment. This report identifies those learnings to make policy recommendations and ultimately accelerate the heat pump market to meet key net zero targets.”
David Cowdrey, acting chief executive at The MCS Foundation, added: “Heat pumps are the only viable technology for decarbonising heating at scale, yet despite recent progress, heat pump deployment in the UK is far off track.
“Accelerating the deployment of small-scale renewables is possible, with clear and consistent policy. Taking lessons from the success of solar, the government must ensure that consumers both know that heat pumps are the right choice financially, and have access to advice to support them on their heat pump journey.”