The high cost of installing heat pumps for home heating could slow down people widely adopting the technology and leave government targets missed, research has suggested.
The study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London revealed there had been little to no reduction in the average installation cost of green heating systems in the last decade.
Although projections suggest a reduction of 20 to 25% in installation costs by 2030, it falls “significantly short” of the targets set by UK policymakers, the researchers said.
The report used systematic evidence review techniques to analyse historic and forecast data for the installation costs of domestic heat pumps. It also found domestic heat pumps currently play a “marginal role” in domestic heating, and although the number of installations is growing, it remains low compared with fossil fuel-based heating systems.
Researchers said the findings highlight the need for policy aspirations to be based on realistic assessments of likely cost reductions, and to develop incentives that can address the relatively high upfront costs of some low carbon technologies.
Dr Mark Winskel, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science, said:
“While there is a growing policy consensus that heat pumps will pay a key role in decarbonising home heating, there are some stubborn economic challenges.
“Our research suggests the need for realistic expectations about heat pump installed cost reductions, and also, introducing targeted support measures to reflect their competitive running costs and wider benefits.”
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