UK Heat Pump Installations in H1 2026: What the Data Shows So Far

Quick answer: Official data published so far for the first half of 2026 shows 10,693 heat pumps were installed in UK homes in Q1 — down 22% on the same quarter in 2025 — but Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications ran about 9% ahead of last year between January and May, suggesting installations should recover through the second half.

2025 was a record year for heat pumps in the UK, with MCS certifying more than 60,000 installations — the most ever in a single year. So how is 2026 shaping up now the first half is behind us? This piece pulls together everything the official sources — the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), MCS and Ofgem — have published to date, and flags what has not yet been released.

What the official H1 2026 data covers (and what it does not)

Two datasets matter here. DESNZ publishes quarterly heat pump deployment statistics — the latest release, published on 11 June 2026, covers January to March 2026. And DESNZ publishes monthly Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics, currently complete to the end of May 2026. Full April–June installation figures will not appear until the next quarterly release, expected in September. So a definitive H1 total does not exist yet — but the published data still tells a clear story.

Q1 2026: installations dipped after a record 2025

According to the DESNZ deployment statistics, 10,693 retrofit heat pumps (hydronic units up to 45kW) were installed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026. That is 18% lower than the final quarter of 2025 and 22% below Q1 2025. It is worth keeping perspective, though: the same release notes Q1 2026 was still more than double the 4,607 installations recorded in Q1 2021 — a 132% rise over five years.

Almost all installations (99%) were air-to-water air source heat pumps. The regional pattern also held steady, with the South East (18%), South West (14%) and East of England (13%) taking the largest shares. Trade press reporting on the release — including pv magazine — noted DESNZ recorded 53,265 retrofit installations across the whole of 2025, so a softer opening quarter follows an exceptionally strong year. We covered that record run in our 2025 year in review and in our earlier analysis of the record-high MCS data.

Grant applications point to a stronger second half

The forward-looking indicator is Boiler Upgrade Scheme demand, because most retrofit heat pumps in England and Wales are grant-funded — MCS reports that 43% of certified heat pumps installed in 2025 were delivered under the BUS. The official May 2026 BUS statistics show applications building steadily through spring: 3,264 in January, 3,632 in February, 4,517 in March, 4,406 in April and 4,411 in May. May 2026 applications were 19% higher than May 2025.

Adding up DESNZ’s monthly table, that is 20,230 applications in the first five months of 2026, versus 18,629 in the same period of 2025 — roughly 9% growth. Applications convert to installations with a lag of a few months, which is why a soft Q1 for completed installs can sit alongside rising demand.

What heat pumps cost in early 2026

The same DESNZ release includes cost data: the median price of an air-to-water heat pump installation in Q1 2026 (January to March) was £13,100 including the grant value, while ground source systems came in at a median of £27,352. Adjusted for inflation, the typical air source cost is 10% lower than in the scheme’s first year (£14,553 in Q1 2023). Home Energy Quotes’s modelled estimate puts the national mid-point at £11,014 before grant support — and with the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, out-of-pocket costs for many homes fall well below the headline figure. You can run numbers for your own home with our savings calculator.

What to watch in the second half of 2026

• From 21 July 2026, homes currently heated by oil or LPG can claim an increased grant of £9,000 under the BUS (running to 31 March 2027). The standard grant for everyone else remains £7,500 — see GOV.UK for the rules.
• Air-to-air heat pumps became eligible for a £2,500 grant from April 2026, and the scheme has been extended to March 2030.
• The next DESNZ quarterly deployment release (covering April–June 2026) is due in September and will complete the H1 picture.

Given oil-heated homes accounted for 17% of all BUS-funded installations to date, the £9,000 uplift targets a sizeable audience — and it is the single most likely driver of an application spike in late summer. For regional context, see our earlier look at heat pump sales data in Lancashire, or start with our heat pump guide.

FAQs

How many heat pumps were installed in the UK in H1 2026?

The full half-year figure is not published yet. DESNZ recorded 10,693 retrofit installations in Q1 2026; April–June data is due in the September 2026 quarterly release. Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications for January–May 2026 totalled 20,230, about 9% ahead of the same months in 2025.

Why did installations fall in early 2026?

DESNZ does not assign a single cause. The dip follows a record 2025, and demand indicators recovered from March onwards — applications in March, April and May 2026 all exceeded 4,400 a month, with May up 19% year on year.

Is the £9,000 heat pump grant available to everyone?

No. From 21 July 2026 the £9,000 grant applies only to homes currently heated by oil or LPG, and runs until 31 March 2027. All other eligible households in England and Wales can claim the standard £7,500 grant, which is unchanged. Your MCS-certified installer applies on your behalf.