Renewable energy company ScottishPower has installed 3,000 heat pumps across England, Scotland and Wales in just 18 months.
Residential properties account for 16% of the UK’s carbon emissions with heat pumps a critical component to deliver net-zero buildings.
Many of ScottishPower’s 3,000 installations, being installed at a rate of over 50 a week, have benefitted from the Government grants available to customers to help reduce the upfront costs, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
It also includes those who’ve received heat pumps and other measures for free under the Government’s ECO4 scheme which is aimed at supporting low income and vulnerable households.
The news follows ScottishPower’s announcement that it is taking part in a ‘Warm Home Prescription’ trial, where local NHS authorities can identify low-income households where people live with health conditions that are sensitive to a cold or damp indoor environment and would benefit from warmer, healthier homes.
Working alongside the Energy Systems Catapult, the trial will see the installation of improved energy efficiency measures, such as upgraded or new home insulation and air source heat pumps.
Government figures show demand for heat pumps is rising after the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero increased the heat pump grant available to households by 50%.
Andrew Ward, Chief Executive of ScottishPower’s customer business, said:
“Installing heat pumps alongside energy efficiency and insulation measures, helps not only to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions but can have a real positive impact on people’s energy bills and well-being too.
“There are over 23 million gas boilers in the UK, so the country has a mammoth task ahead of it. We are working hard to reach as many customers as possible, targeting those who need it most, and ensuring they can benefit from the well-established benefits of heat pump technology.
“Electrification is unstoppable and there are really attractive Government support packages in place. If anything, we need to quicken the pace and increase those support levels as soon as possible to help more and more households decarbonise.”
Image courtesy of ScottishPower
