An Energy Systems Catapult project working across the UK with funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has found there is no property type or architectural era that is unsuitable for a heat pump.

Findings from the project bring hope that heat pump technology can provide a viable route for many homes to reduce carbon emissions.

The Electrification of Heat (EoH) demonstration project led by Energy Systems Catapult, appointed three Delivery Contractors, and have installed 742 heat pumps in three regions across Great Britain.

The project carried out installations on a broad spectrum of housing types, including Victorian-era terraces, mid-1960s flats, and pre WWII semi-detached houses.

Completing the installation stage has brought promising results, and now the project leaders hope to gain more information about how heat pumps perform to enable more homes to adopt the new technology effectively.

Contractors installed varied technologies, including, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and hybrid systems working alongside a gas boiler.

It recognised that there was a greater challenge to installing heat pumps in pre-1945 properties, however, 163 successful installs shows that these challenges can be overcome.

The project has not identified any particular type or age of property that cannot have a successful heat pump installation. The suggestion that there are particular home archetypes in Britain that are unsuitable for heat pumps has not been supported by project experience and data.

“This trial demonstrates that low-carbon heating systems are an effective alternative for homes of all types and ages. As technology continues to improve and costs plummet over the next decade, they will become the obvious, affordable choice for consumers.”

Energy and Clean Growth Minister, Lord Callanan