en.Wedoany.com Reported - The pace of heat pump retrofit installations in the UK slowed in the first quarter of 2026, with data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) showing 10,693 installations recorded in the quarter, down 18% from Q4 2025 and 22% from the same period in 2025. Despite the quarterly decline, installations have more than doubled over five years, compared to 4,607 units recorded in Q1 2021.

Air-to-water heat pumps dominated the UK retrofit market, accounting for 99% of installations in the first three months of 2026. The southernmost regions of the UK led in heat pump adoption, with the South East of England accounting for 18% of installations, followed by the South West (14%) and the East of England (13%). Northern Ireland was the only region to achieve quarter-on-quarter growth, recording 9 installations in Q4 2025 and 30 in Q1 2026.

Deployment rates need to accelerate significantly if the UK government is to meet its target of at least 450,000 heat pump installations annually by 2030. DESNZ data shows only 53,265 units were recorded in 2025. Government data does not cover installations in new-build homes, but data from the Office for National Statistics in October 2025 showed that only 4.2% of new homes in England were fitted with heat pumps. The UK government's new building standards will be fully implemented in 2028, effectively making heat pumps mandatory for new homes.

DESNZ data also does not cover uncertified retrofit installations, although cash grants require certified installations, which are a key driver of heat pump adoption in the UK. The government currently offers £7,500 ($10,000) to households in England and Wales undertaking low-carbon heating retrofits. As part of clean energy policies introduced following the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, the grant value for households using heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been increased, with the government offering £9,000 for heat pump installations for eligible households. Scotland and Northern Ireland also have different subsidy support schemes.

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