MCS reports a record -breaking start until 2025 for certified heat pump installations, but the pace of the deployment is still short of 2028 goals. Subsidy support continues to stimulate the acceptance of heat pump among British consumers.
More than 15,000 heat pumps were installed in the United Kingdom in the first three months of 2025, according to the latest data from MCS. The certification body registered 5,605 heat pump installations in March, the fourth highest monthly total so far and an increase of 22% on March 2024.
Strong installation figures for March 2025 helped to establish a record of the first quarter of 15,758 certified heat pump installations, in which the previous record of the first quarter of 14,211 was beaten in 2022. March 2022 remains the busiest period for the British heating pump installations, with 7.75 Conscompallations, with 7.75 Certified, with 7.75 Certified, with 7.75 Certified, with 7.75 Certified Pump Installations Being deadline grant schedule.
The positive start until 2025 reflects a rise of heat pump installations in the United Kingdom, with nine of the top 10 months for certified installations between May 2024 and March 2025. MCS registered a total of 58,176 heat pump installations in 2024, a new annual record.
MCS certification is not required to install a heat pump in the United Kingdom, but it is necessary to gain access to subsidy support that is available to consumers upgrade scheme of the British government (bus) via the boiler upgrade scheme. A GBP 7,500 ($ 10,000) subsidy is currently available for heat pumps for air source and ground source through the schedule, which is open to houses and small and medium non-domestic buildings in England and Wales. An equivalent subsidy is offered to Scottish consumers by Home Energy Scotland.
MCS CEO Ian Rippin said that the installations of heat pump have increased “as more homeowners switch to low-carbon heating, powered by initiatives such as the boiler-upgrade schedule.”
Data from the British government department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DSNZ) reveal 42,645 heat pumps installed in 2024 were partially or fully financed via a Desnz support schedule. Almost all installations supported by the government were air pumps with air (98%).
Despite more generous subsidy substitute than comparable European markets, the pace of the implementation of heat pump is far below the level needed to achieve the British government goals. A report from the British national audit agency released March 2024 showed that the inclusion of the Buss subsidy was lower than expected, and warned the government’s goal of 600,000 installations per year by 2028 was “based on optimistic assumptions.”
In response, Desnz increased the subsidy available from GBP 5,000 to GBP 7,500, so that some energy suppliers could offer to offer heat pump installations from GBP 500. The government also released rules around the building permit for air heat pumps in November 2024 after lobby in the industry. Previously, heat pumps could not be installed in England within a meter of a characteristic limit without planning permission
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