Heat pump installation costs too high for majority of UK households, according to latest research
December 2025 - Utilities
.jpg "Insights Banner")
Heat pump installation costs too high for majority of UK households, according to latest research: Recent research shows that despite increasing public awareness of, and interest in, heat pumps, concerns about the initial costs of installation means adoption remains low. While a third (33%) of homeowners surveyed are open to installing a heat pump - up from a quarter (26%) in 2024 - the actual increase in ownership has been minimal, rising from 2% in 2023/24 to just 3% in 2025.
The Which? annual Sustainability Tracker, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2000 UK adults in June this year, examined consumer attitudes towards, and adoption of, green energy technologies. The results reveal that other home energy solutions, such as solar panels and PV panels, remain far more popular among UK households, with their adoption rates being two to three times higher than heat pumps (12% and 9%, respectively).
The report identifies several key barriers to heat pump adoption and finds that concerns about upfront costs and a lack of information about green energy technologies in general are major obstacles. Of those surveyed, two-thirds (66%) of homeowners who knew about heat pumps said that installation costs alone would deter them from having one installed. The study indicates this response is common across income levels, implying both an inability and/or unwillingness to pay.
In addition to costs, the report suggests that limited awareness and a lack of confidence in the technology are also negatively affecting adoption. The data shows that over a third (36%) of homeowners surveyed do not know what heat pumps are, while over a quarter (27%) are aware but unsure of their purpose. Furthermore, two-fifths (40%) of homeowners said they are not convinced that heat pumps could heat their homes effectively.
The report recommends that the UK government offer grants to households unable to afford installation costs, provide better protections for heat pump financing, and work to reduce the running costs of heat pumps to make them more financially appealing.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive free insights from your sector...
Support Us...
We hope that you have found this article useful. This section is freely available for all to use. Please help support it by liking us or following us on our social media platforms:
