Heat pumps are gaining popularity in countries like Norway, Sweden, and Estonia, even in cold climates and older buildings. The widespread notion that some countries’ housing is inherently unsuitable for heat pumps is largely a myth.
In several European nations, heat pumps have become the primary method for heating homes. However, adoption varies significantly across the continent due to factors such as subsidies, electricity prices, and government policies encouraging their use.
According to experts interviewed by Euronews Green, dispelling myths about heat pumps’ limitations has played a major role in increasing public confidence in this technology.
“It is a common perception that heat pumps can only be installed in modern, well-insulated, renovated detached houses,” says Sarah Azau, Head of Communications at the European Heat Pumps Association (EHPA). “This is however not the case: we have countless examples of heat pumps working successfully in multi-family homes, ancient listed buildings and even in the Arctic permafrost.”
Jan Rosenow, Director of European Programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), highlights the economic factors influencing heat pump adoption. He explains that “a key factor in determining whether or not heat pumps get adopted is not so much to do with the building types and the architecture but the economics of using them.”
Countries with electricity prices far higher than those of gas and heating oil often see lower adoption rates. For instance, the UK has approximately 412 heat pumps per 100,000 people, significantly below the European average of 3,068 heat pumps per 100,000 people, according to Air Source Heat Pumps London.
In contrast, nations like Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia experience significant uptake because electricity prices are no more than twice as high as those of gas and heating oil.
“In terms of the running costs, the electricity price must be no more than twice the price of gas,” Azau adds. “Heat pumps are very energy efficient—about three to five times as efficient as gas boilers—but they do need a small amount of electricity.”
As myths about heat pump viability fade, experts emphasize the critical role of policymaking in facilitating the green energy transition.
