Millions of European households are switching to heat pumps in the hope of cutting their energy bills, particularly after the war on Iran sent oil and gas prices skyrocketing.
However, new research suggests that the heat pump itself is only part of the equation.
The UK’s Energy Saving Trust (EST) analysed more than 1.1 million combinations of heat pumps, solar panels, batteries and tariffs to understand which delivered the lowest energy costs.
The group found that households could cut annual energy bills by around £800 (€920) by combining a heat pump with solar panels, battery storage and the right electricity tariffs. In fact, the best-performing setups saved more than £1,000 (€1,150) a year.
Why a heat pump alone isn’t always enough
