High costs hinder heat pump adoption in the UK, installer says

The high upfront cost of heat pumps is a major barrier to their adoption in the UK, according to installer Mike Sammon. Despite government grants of £7,500, total costs can reach £10,000, making it difficult for many homeowners to switch from gas boilers. Sammon suggests that the government should increase grants or offer interest-free loans to encourage more households to transition to heat pumps. Currently, only 1% of UK homes use heat pumps, and the demand for trained installers is low, with many engineers not entering the field. The government plans to double the budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £295 million, allowing more households to access financial support. They also aim to simplify planning regulations to facilitate heat pump installations.