The Heat Pump Installation Skills Gap
As the UK seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable energy sources, the use of heat pumps as an alternative to gas boilers is progressing. However, recent studies have shown that there is a skills gap in the installation of heat pumps, and many engineers are not equipped to install them. This article explores the results from the recent study, the need for upskilling engineers and the services we provide to help fill the gap.
THE BENEFITS OF HEAT PUMPS
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient and cost-effective way of heating homes and buildings. They work by extracting heat from the air or ground outside and transferring it indoors.
According to a recent study by the Energy Saving Trust, heat pumps are three times more efficient than gas boilers in converting energy into heat. This means that for every unit of electricity used, a heat pump can produce three units of heat, while a gas boiler can only produce one unit of heat. Aside from being more energy-efficient than gas boilers, heat pumps also have the benefit of being environmentally friendly as they do not produce carbon emissions.
THE SKILLS GAP IN HEAT PUMP INSTALLATION
Despite the benefits of heat pumps, there is a skills gap in the installation of the systems. According to the Heat Pump Association (HPA), only 18% of engineers have the necessary skills and knowledge to install heat pumps. This is a cause for concern as the installation of heat pumps is a crucial factor in ensuring the UK meets its Net Zero targets.
The government goal is to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028, however, the data shows that only 43,000 were installed in 2022. This significant gap between the target and actual number of heat pump installations
THE CURRENT STATE OF HEAT PUMP INSTALLATIONS
To address the skills gap in heat pump installation, there is a need to upskill engineers. This can be done through training and education courses that provide engineers with the necessary knowledge and skills to install heat pumps. A recent survey conducted by Energy Efficiency at City Plumbing revealed some key statistics about the state of heat pump installations.
Here are some of the main findings:
44% of installers don’t know where to go to get trained
Only 27% say it’s easy to find a course near where they live
Just 18% of installers currently install heat pumps
Only 6% of installers are MCS certified
32% of installers are unaware of the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales, which offers discounts for homeowners who replace their fossil fuel heating system to a heat pump (if they use a certified installer)
Only 45% of installers say they are confident they know enough about heat pumps to explain their benefits to customers
These findings clearly indicate the need for more training and education on heat pump installations.
ALTO ENERGY’S INTRODUCTION TO HEAT PUMPS TRAINING COURSE
Our goal at Alto Energy is to make installing a heat pump as easy as possible for heating installers, no matter where you’re located in the UK. To fulfil this goal, we offer free heat pump training courses to qualified heating installers who want to be able to install heat pumps. Our heat pump installation training courses are available at our facility in Carterton, or we offer an online alternative for those who cannot travel to our facility, making it accessible to installers across the UK.
Our purpose-built training facility hosts a variety of air source heat pumps and displays several unvented cylinders and internal units. We believe this is the perfect environment for you to learn the installation process and how heat pumps work.
Our heat pump training courses cover the following:
Installing air source heat pumps
Installing ground source heat pumps
Looking after heat pump systems
Working under our Alto Assured Installer Scheme
If you would like to find out more, visit our Heat Pump Training page or book yourself onto one of courses via our online booking portal.
Get Started With Heat Pumps
If you’re an experienced heating installer looking to get started with heat pumps installations, there is no quicker or more straightforward way than getting in touch with Alto Energy.