Heat pump sales rise 17% across Europe in Q1 as energy prices surge

Source: Hacker News

Residential heat pump sales increased 17 % across 11 European countries in the first quarter of 2026, following a sharp rise in gas and oil prices after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in March, says the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).

Image: Hamburger Energiewerke

Sales performance

• Total units sold: ~575,000 (Jan–Mar 2026) vs. 494,000 in the same period of 2025.
• Year‑on‑year growth: 17 % across the 11 surveyed countries.
• Top markets: France, Germany, and Poland each recorded about 25 % sales growth.

The overall average was held down by Austria, where sales fell 30 % due to the absence of government subsidies.

Drivers of growth

• Energy price shock: Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz on 2 March sharply pushed up gas and oil prices across Europe.
• Consumer awareness: “If your streaming service doubled its price then blocked its movies you’d find a better one,” said Paul Kenny, director‑general of the EHPA. “Consumers have realized heat pumps are the solution when gas and oil are erratic in price and supply.”
• Policy support: The European Commission’s energy‑crisis plan outlines VAT and tax reductions and social‑leasing schemes for lower‑income households. Kenny urged EU governments to implement these measures rapidly.

Economic context

Rising gas prices have been shifting the economics of residential heating in Europe for several years. Recent studies highlight:

• Heat‑pump + PV combos become cheaper than gas heating within 11–14 years. (source)
• Air‑source heat pumps rank among the cheapest residential heating options, with or without solar. (source)
• In Germany, public and political sentiment around heat‑pump policy remains volatile despite broad support. (source)

Copyright notice

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com