- The UK sold 3.5 heat pumps per 1,000 households in 2024
- Norway sold 48.1 heat pumps per 1,000 households in the same year
- Despite the difference, UK heat pump sales grew by 56% in 2024
The UK is still far behind its European neighbours in the heat pump installation race despite seeing a 56% uplift in 2024, according to the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).
The UK bought just 3.5 heat pumps per thousand households in 2024. This is 14 times less proportionately than Norway, who are ranking first on the list by selling 48.1 heat pumps per thousand households.
As well as heat pumps sold, Norway comes first in the number of heat pumps installed, with 632 heat pumps per 1,000 households. Finland comes in at a close second at 524. Again, the UK comes in last at 19 heat pumps.
However, the UK market is one of only three markets in Europe to see growth in 2024, alongside Ireland and Portugal, and saw sales grow by 56% last year.
Bean Beanland, from the Heat Pump Federation, recently appeared again on the Positive Energy podcast
Olivia Smalley, head of policy and communications, UK Heat Pump Association, said these figures, together with the examples of successful roll out abroad, show that there is a huge opportunity for the UK heat pump sector if it gets it right.
“With the right policies, skilled workforce, and consumer incentives and support, we can unlock this potential, resulting in cutting our carbon emissions, strengthening energy security, and driving growth in the UK’s clean energy sector,” Smalley said.
If the countries mentioned in the European Heat Pump Association’s new market report had sales rates in line with Norway, a whopping 10.2 million heat pumps would have been sold. But only around 2.31 million were sold in those countries.
This marks the second consecutive year that heat pump sales have slowed, dropping 22% compared to 2023. The 2.31 million heat pumps sold bring the total stock across these countries to 25.5 million.
Jan Rosenow, energy programme leader, Oxford University and upcoming guest on our Positive Energy podcast, said that historically, the UK has been a “poor performer” when it comes to heat pump sales.
“However, the UK heat pump market was one of the fastest growing markets in the world in 2024 and 2025 is shaping up well so far too and I would not be surprised if the UK climbed up the European ranking soon,” Rosenow said.
“What is critical now is that the government makes electricity more affordable by shifting levies from electricity bills and driving out expensive gas generation in the power sector.”
The revenue generated from the EU’s upcoming second Emissions Trading System (ETS2), a pollution tax on buildings and transport, will go into a Social Climate Fund, aimed to make heat pumps and other clean energy options such as solar panels more affordable.
Combined with support in EU plans such as the Electrification Action Plan and the Heating and Cooling Strategy, as well as the implementation of the 2030 climate and energy laws, the heat pump market will grow.
Paul Kenny, director general, EHPA, said that nearly every heat pump installed replaces a gas or oil boiler: lowering fossil fuel imports, strengthening European competitiveness and energy security and cutting emissions.
“More heat pumps is a win-win for Europe – and it must also be the smart choice for consumers,” Kenny said.
“To get there, electricity prices must be made more competitive, good long-term support schemes put in place and installers trained up, so buying a heat pump is affordable and easy.”
