11 October 2024
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MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewable energy installations, has announced that 2024 is now officially the best year on record for certified heat pump installations in the UK.
In 2023, the UK saw 40,426 certified heat pump installations between January and December, a record at the time. However, as of early October 2024, the UK has already reached that figure, with over 42,000 installations completed from January to the end of September.
Average monthly heat pump installations have risen by 39% compared to 2023, bringing the current number of certified heat pump installations in the UK to nearly 260,000. It is a milestone that underscores the growing adoption of low-carbon heating, with increasing consumer confidence in the benefits of heat pumps for warming homes.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) continues to play a key part in the rollout of heat pumps across England and Wales. Homeowners and small business owners in England and Wales can apply for the £7,500 grant if the installation is MCS certified, making heat pumps more accessible and affordable, whilst ensuring the installation is high-quality by meeting industry-recognised MCS standards.
Applications to the BUS in 2024 have surged, with August 2024 seeing 2,890 applications – more than double the number in August 2023. To ensure voucher availability through the financial year, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has recently authorised Ofgem to over-allocate grant vouchers up to £50 million, increasing the available total to £200 million.
In Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan offers similar support, with grants up to £7,500 for certified heat pump installations, and up to £9,000 for households that qualify for a rural uplift.
Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, commented: “It’s great to see more consumers across the UK making the switch to heat pumps for their home heating needs. There’s still progress to be made to reach the government target of 600,000 installations per year by 2028, but MCS certification will play a key role in driving further adoption, by ensuring everyone has confidence in the quality, safety, and performance of their heat pump installations”.
Bean Beanland, Director of Growth & External Affairs at the Heat Pump Federation, commented on the milestone, saying: “The growth in the deployment rates for domestic heat pump systems is a real cause for celebration and is a testament to the hard work put in by installers and the supply chain. Exceeding the total for 2023 by Q4 this year is a tremendous success and confirms that the increased level of the Boiler Upgrade Grant (BUS) has really stimulated homeowners.
“The significant increase in activity had started to raise a budget risk, so we are extremely grateful that the team at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero responded by permitting Ofgem to over-allocate vouchers for BUS through to March 2025.”
Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association, echoed this, saying that: “The growth in heat pump deployment within the UK is welcome, and it's great to see that 2024 is another record-breaking year. This milestone coupled with the Secretary of State's announcement to over-allocate vouchers for the 2024/25 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, should ensure the positive trajectory of heat pump installations continues for the rest of the financial year.
“We call on the Government to further support confidence in the sector by taking swift action to introduce the consulted on Future Homes and Building Standard, adopt proposed changes to Permitted Development Rights, and tackle the disparity in electricity and gas pricing.”
MCS holds the most comprehensive repository of data on the uptake of small-scale renewable technologies across the UK on The MCS Data Dashboard. For near-real-time updates on renewable installations, you can sign up for free to The MCS Data Dashboard here.
You can also find an MCS certified installer near you here.
