Dr Matthew Aylott

Warm Homes Plan This plan sets out how we will cut energy bills and upgrade homes.

Today we've published the Warm Homes Plan. The Plan details how we will help reduce energy bills and transform our housing stock by upgrading millions of homes up and down the UK with solar panels, batteries, heat pumps & insulation. Read the Plan in full here 👉 www.gov.uk/government/p...

Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certification requirements for clean heat schemes We're seeking views on proposed amendments to the existing Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and to certification requirements for BUS and other clean heat schemes.

Ahead of the Warm Homes Plan being published…

🏡 We've announced that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will expand to support air to air heat pumps & heat batteries www.gov.uk/government/c...

🏢 We've also published a consultation on the role of alternative clean heating tech www.gov.uk/government/c...

Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan The UK's plan to create investment, growth, and good jobs in clean energy industries, as part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

The UK Government is putting heat pumps at the heart of its Industrial Strategy. Published yesterday the 'Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan' list heat pumps as one of six areas with the highest growth potential and commits to a 10 point action plan to grow the sector: www.gov.uk/government/p...

It’s better to prevent issues arising in the first instance, as they say prevention is better than cure. But I agree that we’ve been overzealous and it should be by exception rather than the rule that heat pumps require planning permission, that’s why we’ve updated permitted development rights.

Thanks for sharing. Installing a heat pump should not be this complicated. You’ll be aware that just last week we updated the planning rules. But still more work to do to make installing a heat pump easier, something myself and ministers are very aware of.

Councils have a role in managing noise pollution, but modern heat pumps are very quiet and it should be by exception that planning officers get involved. Aside from updating permitted development rules, we’re also reviewing planning processes to ensure councils are more consistent which should help.

Really sorry this has been your experience Iain. Most heat pump installations don’t require planning permission and just last week we relaxed the rules further and updated the noise planning standard. We are also reviewing planning processes across councils to ensure they are more consistent.

We've published new legislation to relax rules around permitted development for heat pumps. The changes will come into effect from 29 May and should make it easier for consumers to install a heat pump without a full planning application.
 
For more info visit: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/56...

We aim to lay legislation to implement the changes to permitted development for air source heat pumps very shortly, so you won’t have long to wait.

Families to get more choice over home upgrades Proposals to give families greater choice when upgrading their home's heating as well as plans to create up to 18,000 training places for green jobs.

Big news today for anyone interested in decarbonising home heating in the UK. We're consulting on extending grants to new tech like heat batteries and air-to-air heat pumps, and we’ve announced further investment to grow the heat pump supply chain. More info here -> www.gov.uk/government/n...

Today we launch our ‘warm and fuzzy’ heat pump campaign across TV, radio and the web to help raise awareness of heat pumps and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. Watch the video below or visit the campaign webpage at www.gov.uk/heatpumps

Air-to-air heat pumps: literature review This literature review summarises the opportunities and challenges faced by air-to-air heat pumps (A2A HPs) in the UK.

Yesterday we published a review by the @energysyscat.bsky.social which looked at air to air heat pumps and the important role they could play in decarbonising UK homes: www.gov.uk/government/p...

New Study Confirms Heat Pumps Vastly Outperform Traditional Heating Systems - Ground Source Heat Pump Association New Study Confirms Heat Pumps Vastly Outperform Traditional Heating SystemsA groundbreaking study analysing real-world performance data for heat pumps across the UK has revealed that both Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) deliver substantial efficiency gains over traditional gas and oil boilers, with GSHPs offering even greater long-term performance advantages.The report, “In-Situ Heat Pump Performance - Analysis of Ofgem Data 2017–2022”, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), and the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA), assessed data from over 1,700 heat pump installations monitored between 2017 and 2022.Key Findings:· Heat pumps outperform gas and oil boilers: Both GSHPs and ASHPs achieved Seasonal Performance Factors (SPFs) well above fossil fuel heating systems, which typically operate with an efficiency of around 0.9 to 0.95.· GSHPs deliver superior long-term efficiency: GSHPs achieved an average SPF of 3.24, rising to 3.31 for the most recent installations in 2022, demonstrating their ability to justify the higher initial investment with greater payback over time.· Strong performance from ASHPs: ASHPs also delivered significant energy savings, achieving an average SPF of 2.65, with nearly 30% of systems performing at SPF 3.0 or higher.· Investment in GSHPs pays dividends: One in three GSHPs achieved an SPF of 3.5 or higher, underscoring their reliability and long-term value for consumers.A Sustainable Future for HeatingThe study highlights that heat pumps, both ground and air source, are essential for achieving the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. GSHPs, while requiring higher initial capital investment, deliver superior long-term efficiency, ensuring lower operating costs and faster payback periods for consumers. At the same time, ASHPs remain a widely accessible and effective solution for reducing carbon emissions and energy bills.Industry PerspectiveKen Gordon, CEO of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA), commented: "This research demonstrates that heat pumps are an exceptional alternative to fossil fuel heating. Both ground and air source systems provide impressive efficiency gains, but the additional upfront investment in Ground Source Heat Pumps pays off through significantly higher long-term performance and cost savings. With the right support, heat pumps can drive the energy transition and help consumers cut bills and carbon."Policy and InvestmentThe findings call for continued investment and support for both technologies, ensuring that homes and businesses can benefit from sustainable, efficient heating systems that deliver real-world performance far exceeding traditional gas and oil boilers.The In-Situ Heat Pump Performance report is referenced in the Electrification of Heat Reports also published today by Energy Systems Catapult.

Together with the Ground Source Heat Association and the Renewable Energy Consumer Code, we've also published analysis of the performance of ground source heat pumps from Ofgem data showing how they can outperform boilers and other heat pump technologies gshpa.site-ym.com/news/689669/...

Heat pumps recommended by 85% of consumers 85% of Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project participants had, or were likely to, recommend heat pumps to a friend or family member.

Published today: New data and reports from the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project show that heat pumps are efficient, widely suitable across UK homes and deliver high levels of consumer satisfaction. Read more from @energysyscat.bsky.social here: es.catapult.org.uk/news/heat-pu...

As part of Govt’s update on the UK Hydrogen Strategy, we’ve announced that we’ll consult in 2025 on the role of hydrogen for domestic heating. We’ll also be consulting on whether to allow transmission level blending of hydrogen with natural gas: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676191...

Raising product standards for space heating We’re seeking views on proposals and draft statutory instrument to improve ecodesign and energy labelling legislation to increase the performance of space heating products.

An early Christmas present: We’ve published a consultation on raising product standards for space heaters. This includes increasing minimum performance standards for heat pumps and boilers and also changing energy labels so gas boilers can’t be more than F-rated. www.gov.uk/government/c...

Changes to Energy Performance Certificates will work alongside the new Home Energy Model, which includes half hourly price settlement simulations so will have the ability to model flex/time of use tariffs.

Heat pump deployment statistics: September 2024 Statistical releases on heat pump installations in the United Kingdom.

Today, we've published new stats on heat pump installations in the UK. This shows 38,305 government-supported heat pumps were installed in the last year (up to the end of Sept 2024), a 46% increase on the previous year. Take a look at the data here -> www.gov.uk/government/s...

Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime Consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs).

Today colleagues at the Ministry of Housing have published a consultation on reforms to Energy Performance Certificates. This includes plans for a new smart readiness metric & new heating system metric, to encourage adoption of low carbon heating. More details here: www.gov.uk/government/c...

Clean Heat Market Mechanism: adjustment to scheme introduction date We're inviting views on plans to adjust the date of introduction of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism scheme to 1 April 2025.

We’ll introduce a reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism in April, with changes to ensure manufacturers have time to scale up supply chains & we’re reducing penalties for missing targets from £3000 to £500 in yr one, meaning boiler prices won’t have to increase. More here -> www.gov.uk/government/c...

More money is coming 🙂 The scale of the challenge and need for urgency isn’t lost on ministers.

Or is it a pragmatic response from ministers to ensure boiler manufacturers have time to adapt to the new scheme so they don’t pass on any costs to those 1.7m people still installing fossil fuel boilers each year.

Help to save households money and deliver cleaner heat to homes Up to 300,000 homes to benefit from upgrades next year, as government continues rollout of the Warm Homes Plan.

Today we’ve announced a huge package of measures to accelerate the deployment of heat pumps, including liberalising planning rules, increasing funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme & introducing a reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism in April www.gov.uk/government/n...

My first post on BlueSky and it’s a big one for heat pump fans [no pun intended]…