Heat pumps are an efficient way of producing heat from electricity. They capture the latent heat in the air, ground or water and use it for heating.
Heat pumps are expected to play a significant role in decarbonising heat in Scotland. However, efficiency can vary across the heating season and in different buildings. As a result, the costs and impacts on wider energy systems depend on the context.
ClimateXChange commissioned Changeworks and LCP Delta to research how heat pumps are being used in Scotland now. This desk-based review looked at evidence on how heat pumps currently, or are likely to, perform in practice in Scottish buildings. The research identified best practice relevant to Scotland and gaps in the available evidence.
Changeworks’ role in the project was to:
- Develop a desk-based literature review of grey literature, published research, academic papers, and case studies covering the UK and international comparisons
- Analyse findings using our in-house technical expertise of heat pumps
Read the full report below
Key findings
Poor heat pump performance is most likely to arise due to poor design and specification. This means appropriate design and installation are the most important considerations to ensuring heat pumps perform well in Scotland.
Heat pumps are a mature heating technology used in several European countries, including countries with colder winters than Scotland. The review found no evidence to suggest that heat pumps could not operate effectively or efficiently in Scotland.
The review suggests there is occupant satisfaction with heat pumps.
There is evidence that building confidence in heat pump technology among consumers and the supply chain could maximise heat pump performance.
Running cost monitoring showed heat pumps were cheaper to run than previous electric, oil or LPG heating systems. This is a key outcome for occupant satisfaction.