New analysis suggests that heat pumps can be cheaper to run than gas boilers for most European households, despite higher electricity costs. The findings come as governments push to replace gas boilers with heat pumps to cut carbon emissions, but face resistance from sceptics and concerns over upfront costs.
According to Dr Jan Rosenow of the Regulatory Assistance Project, heat pumps produce heat three to five times more efficiently than gas boilers, offsetting the higher price of electricity. In the UK, electricity is about four times more expensive than gas, but a heat pump with a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCoP) above 3 matches the running costs of an 85% efficient gas boiler.
A study of 750 UK households by the Energy Systems Catapult found that heat pumps typically have a SCoP of 2.9, implying a small extra cost. However, the Energy Saving Trust found the difference to be just £14 per year compared with a new A-rated gas boiler. The UK government offers a £7,500 grant to help with the average £12,500 installation cost, narrowing the upfront gap with gas boilers which cost £1,600 to £3,000.
Similar schemes across Europe, such as Poland's grants of up to €14,420 and Italy's short-lived 110% superbonus, have spurred uptake. Critics warn of higher energy bills and costly home upgrades, but experts argue that for most homes, heat pumps are now a viable and cost-effective alternative.
