The number of heat pumps installed compared to a country’s population ranges hugely across Europe, new numbers from the European Heat Pump Association reveal. This shows that there is still massive potential for greater roll-out.
The top country, Norway, has 632 heat pumps installed for every 1,000 households, closely followed by Finland at 524. What’s more, sales in those countries are still strong, with 48 heat pumps sold for every 1,000 households in 2024 in Norway, and 33 in Finland – the highest levels in Europe.
On the other end of the scale, around 3.5 heat pumps were sold for every 1,000 households in 2024 in the UK – 14 times less proportionately than Norway. The UK now has a stock of 19 heat pumps per 1,000 households. The UK market is, however, one of only three in Europe to have grown last year along with Ireland and Portugal, thanks to a steady support scheme for consumers.
In the Czech Republic, four heat pumps were sold for every 1,000 households last year and there is a stock of 70 for 1,000 households altogether. In Germany and in Poland, five heat pumps were sold for every 1,000 households in 2024.
“Nearly every heat pump installed replaces a gas or oil boiler: lowering fossil fuel imports, strengthening the European competitiveness and energy security and cutting emissions” commented Paul Kenny, director general of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).
“More heat pumps is a win-win for Europe – and it must also be the smart choice for consumers. To get there, electricity prices must be made more competitive, good long-term support schemes put in place and installers trained up, so buying a heat pump is affordable and easy,” added Kenny.
If all 19 European countries covered by the European Heat Pump Association’s new market report had sales rates in line with Norway’s, 10.2 million heat pumps would have been sold. Instead, around 2.31 million were sold in those countries.
The EU’s upcoming pollution tax on buildings and transport (the second Emissions Trading System) – and the Social Climate Fund the revenues will be used for – can make heat pumps and clean options affordable options for citizens. If combined with strong support in EU plans like the Electrification Action Plan and the Heating and Cooling Strategy, and the implementation of the 2030 climate and energy laws (‘Fit for 55 package’), the heat pump market will grow.
Overall, heat pump sales slowed in 2024 for the second year running, dropping 22% compared to 2023. The additional 2.31 million heat pumps sold bring the stock in those 19 countries to 25.5 million.
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Marta San Román, Director general at AFEC – Spanish Association of HVAC manufacturers:
“No heat pumps, no cooling: health, productivity, IAQ and children’s ability to learn suffer. No heat pumps, no complete and timely energy transition. As simple as that, no matter how much some people try to argue the opposite and reinvent figures, assumptions and analyses. Let’s stop greenwashing, may the heat pump be with you!”
Olivia Smalley, Head of Policy and Communications at the UK Heat Pump Association:
“UK heat pump sales grew by 56% in 2024 which, together with the examples of successful deployment demonstrated in other countries, underscores the vast opportunity ahead. With the right policies, skilled workforce, and consumer incentives and support, we can unlock this potential, resulting in cutting our carbon emissions, strengthening energy security, and driving growth in the UK’s clean energy sector”
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Sarah Azau
Communications and Events Director, European Heat Pump Association
sarah.azau@ehpa.org
