Scotland on course for record number of heat pump installations in 2024

Scotland is on course for a record number of heat pump installations in 2024 as a “growing number” of homeowners embrace the technology, an industry body has said.

According to figures released by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), more than 5,000 MCS-certified heat pumps have been installed in Scotland so far in 2024.

The MCS, which is the standard-setting body for low-carbon energy products, said this is 34% more than were installed during the same period last year.

Ian Rippin, chief executive officer of MCS, said: “Our data shows that a growing number of homeowners across Scotland are investing in heat pumps which are one of the most efficient and sustainable heating solutions for homes and are a vital part of Scotland’s plans to reach net zero by 2045.

“Government incentives, such as the HES (Home Energy Scotland) grant and loan, make the switch to greener and cleaner energy more accessible and affordable whilst ensuring the quality of their renewable installation.

“These results from MCS show that with the right grant support and regulation, people can have the certainty they need to make the switch to cleaner, greener forms of heating.”

The HES grant and loan offers £7,500 towards the installation of a heat pump, with eligible households in rural areas receiving up to £9,000.

The news has been welcomed by conservationists, with Claire Daly, head of policy and advocacy at WWF Scotland, describing the figures as “very encouraging”.

She continued: “It’s particularly welcome to find areas currently experiencing high levels of fuel poverty, such as Scotland’s rural areas and islands, making the switch to renewable heating.

“One in three Scottish households are currently in fuel poverty while our reliance on fossil fuel heating is creating damaging carbon pollution.

“The recently announced Heat in Buildings Bill should help accelerate the move to cleaner heating that will free households from unstable fossil fuel prices and make the most of our ever-cheaper renewables.

“These results from MCS show that with the right grant support and regulation, people can have the certainty they need to make the switch to cleaner, greener forms of heating.”

According to the MCS, 9% of Scottish households now have an MCS-certified “renewable installation” – which includes heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage.

Installation rates vary across the country: Na h-Eileanan Siar, where over a fifth (20.5%) of all households have a renewal installation, has the most, followed by Orkney (14.7%) and Argyll and Bute (8.8%).

The MCS said that, overall, Scotland has seen more than 23,000 new renewable installations to date in 2024.

The MCS, which is the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewable energy installations, holds details of every MCS-certified installation in the UK since 2008.