As the UK moves towards a greener future, the way we heat our homes is changing. Heat pumps are at the heart of this transformation – an efficient, low-carbon alternative to traditional gas boilers.
By 2028, 600,000 are expected to be installed annually in the UK, following the example of countries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland, where they are already the primary heating solution. Heat pumps even outsold gas boilers in the US for the first time in 2022, a trend that continued into 2024. Suffice to say, they are transforming heat delivery globally.
Despite this success, heat pumps are met with some resistance in the UK, and this is partly due to a lack of familiarity with how they work. British homeowners are used to gas boilers, which run at high temperatures and heat homes quickly. For heat pumps, things get more complicated;operating at a lower flow temperature they take longer to heat up a home.
For this transition to succeed, we need homeowners to have confidence in their heating systems, to know they’re easy to use, and deliver reliable comfort – this is where the latest generation of smart heat pump controls come in.
The role of smart controls
The latest smart controls make comfort simpler and take the guesswork out of operating a heat pump. With well-designed, user-friendly heating controls, they ensure that everyday interactions with heat pumps are seamless, making this vital shift in home heating as effortless as possible.
Once installed, they learn how a home heats and cools, adapt to the behaviour of the heating system, and use local weather forecasts to optimise performance. By continuously adjusting the heat pump’s flow temperature, these controls maximise efficiency while maintaining comfort.
Importantly, heating controls must also be accessible and user-friendly. The latest smart controls, such as the Passiv Smart Thermostat, are designed to mirror the simplicity of a boiler interface, making it easy to manage home heating. These systems don’t require an internet connection or smartphone, after all, smart heat pump controls shouldn’t only be for the tech-savvy. They need to be accessible, easy to use and suitable for anyone who has a heat pump. You can’t guarantee that people will have an internet connection or smartphone, or that they will want to use these things to manage their heating and hot water. By prioritising user-friendly design, heat pumps become not just effective, but a part of everyday life.
Addressing grid demand and unlocking financial benefits
Heat pumps can also pose a challenge to grid security. They are expected to increase the UK’s peak electricity demand from about 50GW to 130GW – an increase of over 150%. Heat pumps typically consume most power during cold winter evenings – times when demand is high and there’s no sun in the sky for solar panels to utilise. However, they also offer households a great opportunity to earn extra cash, with a unique potential for flexible operation.
Smart, automated controls are already helping householders to earn money with their heat pump. As part of Passiv’s Greener Grid Payments, the controls automatically respond to signals based on the needs of the wider electricity network, reducing heat pump grid demand while using smart preheating to make sure homes don’t noticeably cool down.
As domestic energy flexibility continues to grow, heat pump owners have an exciting new opportunity. Demand-side response (DSR) will become essential for the stability of our energy system as it increasingly relies on renewables. A smart, two-way energy system allows customers to earn money through the devices they use. This is a huge benefit to homeowners who want to take control of their bills and their comfort.
Heat pumps are a key part of the transition to low-carbon heating, but their success depends on more than just their technology. Smart controls make them easier to use, more efficient, and even financially rewarding. The future of home heating isn’t just greener, it’s smarter and simpler too!
By Ian Rose, Sales & Strategy Director at Passiv UK