Sachin Vibhute, HVAC and Heat Pumps Technical Consultant and Product Training Manager at LG.
Heat pump awareness has been steadily growing in the last few years, largely due to a wider understanding of the benefits of installing green technology and increased government incentives. To this point, it’s encouraging to see the Heat Pump Association’s latest figures show that adoption of heat pumps rose again in 2025, to 125 thousand
Yet the same set of data also shows that the number of individuals being trained to install heat pumps dropped in 2025. A downtick in trained installers threatens to introduce a new problem to an already complicated puzzle. There are a myriad of other challenges impacting greater heat pump deployment; take for example, space constraints and legacy infrastructure. These two issues have long been seen as holding wider installation back, although there has been positive progress in these areas.
While removing existing barriers is easier said than done, with cooperation between industry and government, it’s more than possible. Alongside, increased investment in hands-on-practical training of installers, there are innovative new technologies which can offer solutions and prevent a stall in momentum in the switch over to heat pumps.
Cutting red tape
The government’s decision to relax rules around the size of external heat pumps was a welcome move, helping homeowners in England to install multiple units within one metre of any neighbouring property without planning permission. And detached property owners also have the option to install two heat pumps instead of a single unit, simplifying the process of heating bigger homes.
These moves are viewed by industry professionals as a productive step forward, providing clearer pathways to installation and enabling widespread deployment of the technology. But more needs to be done.
For instance, multifamily housing and large high-rise office buildings represent a significant opportunity for reducing emissions. But legacy infrastructure, a lack of space for external units, and fluctuating heat demands, can often mean these buildings are seen as too challenging for the technology.
That doesn’t mean it’s an impossible task. Smart controls and sensors can balance demand across varying building zones and keep water circulating throughout heating systems as low as possible. This helps identify inefficiencies such as heat loss or short cycling. And in high-rise buildings, replacing individual boilers with a centralised heat pump system can reduce maintenance cost and improve efficiency. Thermal storage also helps smooth load fluctuations and ensures reliable heating and hot water.
Innovation to support evolving needs
Raising public awareness about new innovative heat pumps can also change perception and encourage adoption of the technology.
Cascade heat pumps, for example, are central to the acceleration of heat pump installation in crowded spaces. Alongside centralised plant-room solutions and rooftop installations, these pumps address issues with space constraints as they distribute capacity across available areas, rather than relying on a single large unit. As they are smaller, they fit far easier into tight or irregular spaces such as flats, tall buildings or where there is limited outdoor space.
These pumps are made up of distinct units controlled by a cascade system which operates together like a single, smart heating plant. The individual units automatically switch on and off based on demand. This helps with efficiency and reduction of energy waste whilst also meeting performance requirements, making them an especially good option for social housing.
Closing the installer gap
New and innovative technologies can only turn the tide on heat pump acceleration successfully, if can be installed successfully in the first place. This means ensuring there are enough installers, technicians, and services partners with the right skills.
The current state of play is that courses are limited in availability and often far flung, making access more difficult than it should be.
Installing heat pumps requires careful assessment of space, accurate system sizing and specialist configuration – all of which means proper training is essential. Manufacturer-led training academies are already doing great work in equipping industry workers with the right skills to install systems, but more training needs to be made readily accessible and available.
Making real change happen
Growing awareness of low-carbon heating and government backed-incentives mean property owners are increasingly open to heat pump adoption. But coordinated heating industry and government effort is needed to remove existing barriers to the installation process. This includes scaling solutions that work in a variety of buildings, and making sure a skilled workforce is primed and ready to deliver. Failure to address these challenges will see interest stall, and adoption of the technology drop. But, getting it right will ensure awareness is turned into action.
This article appeared in the April 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.
