Half of UK homes need to have heat pumps by 2040

The Climate Change Committee tell the government that half of homes need to use heat pumps by 2040.
By Justin at Checkmark |
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Heat pumps are in the UK mainstream news today Opens in a new window as the country’s independent climate advisors, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), present their new pathway to a decarbonised UK Opens in a new window.

The CCC’s pathway sets out a model to reduce emissions by 87% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2040 - and reach ’net zero’ by 2050. Their model is dependent on the rapid uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps, and requires that around half of homes in the UK be heated by heat pumps in fifteen years’ time (2040).

The CCC’s document includes graphs for the roll-out/uptake of various low-carbon technologies, including the following for heat pumps and EVs:

Proportion of homes with a heat pumpProportion of homes with a heat pump

Checkmark is of course strongly in favour of decarbonisation. For that to happen, the government has to act and follow the recommendations of its advisers, the CCC, even in the currently demanding environment of international political instability and the recently announced requirement to increase defence spending.

Unfortunately, the signs aren’t good. For example, we note that the February to April 2024 consultation on the relaxation of permitted development rights for heat pumps hasn’t reported back yet. We have to ask why the government is so slow on this? It is surely an easy first step to encourage the uptake of heap pump installation, and help work towards the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations.