UK’s drive to install heat pumps stymied by ‘lack of demand and skill shortage’

The findings are likely to raise concern over the UK’s efforts to cut carbon emissions by helping households to replace their gas boilers with electric heat pumps. Photograph: Mark Waugh/Alamy

The UK’s drive to replace gas boilers with heat pumps is being stymied by a lack of consumer demand and a shortage of skilled installers to fit heat pumps where they are wanted, according to an industry survey.

The most comprehensive poll of heat pump installers to date found that the biggest barrier was the low number of households choosing to get one fitted.