Driving Innovation in Heat Pump Technology: Highlights from the UK

As the UK moves closer to its decarbonisation targets, the research and projects showcased during this research symposium underscore the pivotal role of innovation, flexibility, and data-driven policy in scaling up the adoption of heat pumps across all sectors. The symposium provided a rich blend of international collaboration, technical depth, and practical field insights.

On March 11, 2025, researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals gathered at 3-8 Whitehall Place in London for the DESNZ & IEA Heat Pump Research Symposium, a full-day event showcasing cutting-edge projects, research findings, and international collaboration in heat pump technologies. Organized by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and supported by the HPT TCP Annex 60 Retrofitting Heat Pump Systems in Large Non-domestic Buildings by IEA, the symposium provided a valuable platform for sharing lessons learned, identifying gaps, and discussing the future of heat pump deployment in the UK and beyond.

Opening remarks and overview of the IEA programme for heat pumps

The day began with a warm welcome from Oliver Sutton (DESNZ), setting the tone for an engaging and informative symposium. This was followed by Roger Hitchin, who provided an overview of the Technology Collaboration Programme on Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT TCP) by IEA, highlighting the global scope of ongoing collaborative projects and the UK’s active involvement.

Research updates from ongoing IEA HPT Annexes

Two key IEA HPT TCP research and innovation projects (so-called annexes) were presented:

• HPT Annex 60 – Retrofitting Heat Pumps in Large Non-Domestic Buildings: Peter Mallaburn delivered an update on this UK-led initiative focused on the complexities of integrating heat pumps into large commercial buildings, a critical step toward decarbonising non-residential sectors.
• HPT Annex 63 – Placement Impact on Heat Pump Acoustics: Antonio J. Torija Martínez (University of Salford) presented findings on how installation placement affects acoustic performance, an often-overlooked but essential aspect of user acceptance and system optimization.

Exploring demand flexibility through pilot projects

The mid-morning session shifted toward innovative trials aiming to align heat pump operation with grid flexibility:

• The Equinox Project (National Grid): Ryan Huxtable shared findings from trials exploring new billing schemes to incentivize households to shift their heat pump usage patterns, relieving pressure on the electricity network during peak times.
• The LATENT Project (University of Southampton): Patrick James presented field trial data on third-party control of electric heating systems, assessing behavioural responses, thermal dynamics of dwellings, and business model viability.
• The Heatflex Project (Centre for Net Zero & Nesta): Daniel Lopez Garcia and Oli Berry discussed their collaborative trial of load shifting via smart thermostats, offering practical insights into consumer engagement and energy flexibility.
• Time-of-Use Heat Pump Tariff Research: Andy Hackett (Centre for Net Zero) examined how time-of-day electricity tariffs influence energy consumption, furthering understanding of behavioural and systemic impacts.

Afternoon insights: Measurement, monitoring, and market trends

The afternoon resumed with a strong focus on performance monitoring and real-world testing:

• Controlled Environment Testing: Grant Henshaw (Salford University) showcased findings from controlled test chambers simulating heat pump performance in real houses, offering robust comparative data.
• HeatPumpMonitor.org: Glyn Hudson and Trystan Lea (OpenEnergyMonitor) introduced their open-access platform tracking real-time performance metrics, promoting transparency and performance feedback from users.

Policy and market implications

The final presentations highlighted policy-relevant research and programme learnings:

• Air-to-Air Heat Pumps: Lewis Bowick (Energy Systems Catapult) shared insights from a DESNZ-commissioned literature review, shedding light on the underexplored potential of air-to-air heat pumps in the UK market.
• Heat Pump Ready Programme – 5 Key Learnings: Will Rivers (Carbon Trust) concluded the symposium with impactful lessons from the Heat Pump Ready programme, underlining strategic considerations for accelerating domestic uptake, including supply chain engagement, installer training, and customer awareness.