Grant funding continues but total number of retrofit heat pumps in first quarter of 2026 18% down on same period in 2025. Pace of deployment remains significantly below government’s 2030 target of 450,000 per year.
The pace of UK heat pump retrofits has fallen in the first three months of 2026, despite continued subsidy support and an increased grant for those using oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for home heating.
New figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) record 10,693 retrofit heat pump installations in the first quarter of 2026, 18% lower compared to the previous quarter and a 22% fall against the first three months of 2025. Despite the drop, quarterly installations have more than doubled over a five-year period – with 4,607 recorded for the first quarter of 2021.
Source: Department for Energy Security and Net ZeroNote: The Q1 2022 installations spike preceded the closure of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme on Mar. 31, 2022.
Air-to-water heat pumps dominate the UK retrofit market, accounting for 99% of installations in the first three months of 2026. The most southern regions of the United Kingdom lead on heat pump adoption with southeast England, accounting for 18% of installs, followed by southwest (14%) and east (13%) England.
