In most countries, gas is subsidised by governments, avoiding carbon taxes and keeping it at an artificially low price relative to electricity. However, the maps published by the EHPA – covering six month periods from 2021 - show there was a short-lived change around the 2022 energy crisis, when gas was more expensive. That contributed to a record year for heat pump sales.
Unfortunately, this did not last. Currently, much of Europe electricity costs more than 2.5 times more per unit than gas. Electricity should be maximum around twice the price of gas to make a heat pump – which only uses a tiny amount of electricity to run - a good investment.
The most recent figures from EHPA show heat pump sales fell 47 percent in Europe in the first six months of 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023.
The exceptions are Finland, Norway and Sweden, where there is very little gas and heat pump use continues to be widespread.
“Heat pumps are crucial to ending Europe’s reliance on fossil fuel imports, critical in achieving a secure sovereign energy system that is insulated from foreign actors and their use of energy prices as a weapon of war” said Paul Kenny, director general of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA). “But it won’t happen if it’s too expensive for consumers and businesses. If EU governments are serious about energy sovereignty, competitiveness and sustainability, they should ensure energy prices favour heat pumps.”
The maps, which use Eurostat data, are published on Heat Pump Day – which celebrates the benefits of heat pumps in terms of sustainability, energy independence and comfort on and around 21 October. Events and activities are taking place across Europe to mark the occasion.
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