The latest data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) has reported a record-breaking year for heat pumps in 2022, with more than 30,000 MCS-certified installations registered between air and ground source technologies.
Heat pumps were the second most popular technology type in 2022 – second only to solar – according to MCS, and accounted for 19% of the record breaking 163,341 certified installations.
March 2022 saw the largest rise in heat pump installations in the scheme’s history, according to the standards organisation for domestic renewable and heat technology, coinciding with the end of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive.
The launch of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) in May, which offered a £5,000 to £6,000 grant for households in England and Wales looking to replace their gas boiler with a heat pump, also helped installation rates sustain their upwards trajectory.
“We’re pleased to report our second strongest year since 2015, illustrating the sector’s upward trajectory. We had an incredibly busy 2022 and the data confirms the progress we’ve made. The future of small-scale renewable installations is becoming increasingly important, and we continue to play a crucial role in the decarbonisation of the UK’s homes,” said CEO at MCS, Ian Rippin.
“The growth we’ve seen in domestic renewable electricity systems over the past year may also give some insight into the growing consumer reliance on home-grown energy in the UK during the cost-of-living crisis. As electricity prices skyrocket, more people are turning to renewable solutions to generate their own power at home.”
