Sales of heat pumps rose by more than 60% last year with close to 100,000 sold according to the Heat Pump Association (HPA).

Heat pumps have seen an increase in popularity as a low-carbon alternative to gas boilers. Much of the growth was the result of air to water monobloc heat pumps.

Further, a recent survey from Octopus Energy also found that 1,700+ UK households reported high satisfaction with their heat pump installations.

An important factor in the rise of heat pump sales include schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Energy Company Obligation or ECO. Some 60% of overall sales relate to the MCS heat pump notifications.

While heat pumps sales have increased, there remains a need for further developments, such as lowering installation costs, to make the technology more accessible and affordable.

This could result from the cost of the technology itself declining in time or renewed and up-to-date government efforts to support households and businesses seeking new installations.

What’s more, one recent change requires that all new build properties must now feature a heat pump or another suitable alternative to gas boilers from this year onward. This does not apply to existing properties and future installations, however.

Beyond that, it’s important to note that new build property gas boiler ban was first proposed prior to the current government, however, this measure’s introduction does align with their clean and affordable electricity vision for the UK.

Regardless, the inclusion of air source heat pumps in many new build properties is one example of how new measures might make the technology more accessible and commonplace, though wider efforts to reach existing properties could have a bigger impact in the short-term.