The Telegraph has published an opinion piece on the viability of heat pumps.

It can be seen here (subscription may be necessary) and says

The Government’s own chief scientific adviser has admitted it is “not currently clear” whether heat pumps—the cornerstone of Britain’s net zero heating policy—will actually save households money in the long run.

Minutes from a roundtable chaired by Professor Dame Angela McLean, published this week by the Office for Science, cast fresh doubt on the economic case for heat pumps, even as ministers continue pushing for widespread adoption.

The meeting, held in January and attended by climate minister Kerry McCarthy, described heat pumps as “a major financial decision and long-term commitment,” with no guarantee of lower energy bills compared to traditional gas boilers.

The admission deals a blow to Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband’s drive to replace gas boilers with low-carbon alternatives. Heat pumps, which extract warmth from the air or ground, can cost up to £13,000 to install—despite government grants of up to £7,500.

A 2023 study cited in the report, by Polish academic Agnieszka Kijo-Kleczkowska, calculated the fastest possible payback period for a heat pump and solar panel system to be 11 years and six months—a timeframe labelled “unacceptably long to many.”

Public confidence slipping

Public enthusiasm is waning. A government survey released last week revealed that half of UK households are “not very or not at all likely” to install either an air-source or ground-source heat pump, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz).

Minutes from the roundtable stated that public perception of heat pumps is now “fragile.”

Industry voices have warned the policy risks becoming another green misstep.

“Apart from the high upfront cost of fitting a heat pump, consumers using a standard tariff face higher running bills than a gas boiler too,” said Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance.

“It should not be a surprise to find that asking consumers to pay more for the same service—heating a home—is not a popular option. Something needs to change.”

Political backlash

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, branded the situation “another net zero policy unravelling.”

“Heat pumps are shown to be an expensive con. People have been deliberately wronged in another major mis-selling scandal,” he said.

Even with a £7,500 grant, many households face a shortfall of £5,500 or more—deterring all but the most committed homeowners. YouGov polling shows strong public resistance to bearing these costs personally.

Government response

A spokesperson for Desnz defended the rollout and said demand remains strong:

“The British people are showing record demand for heat pumps, which enable families to save around £100 a year by using a smart tariff.

“We’re supporting the industry to develop financing models that remove upfront costs entirely, and exploring new ideas like heat pump subscriptions to help more households make the switch.”

The Government also reaffirmed its Warm Homes Plan, which will offer home upgrades including insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps.

However, ministers were forced to retreat from a separate plan this week to introduce regional electricity pricing, which critics warned would have penalised households in the South with higher bills.

Not yet official policy

Officials were quick to clarify that Prof McLean’s meeting notes “do not represent government policy,” but merely the views of the roundtable participants.

Still, the report deepens concerns over whether heat pumps are being promoted before their cost-effectiveness has been fully proven.

With heat pump adoption now tied directly to the UK’s net zero by 2050 target, critics argue the policy risks becoming a costly liability for households and the Treasury alike unless support is better targeted.

As one participant reportedly remarked during the roundtable:

“We must not lose public trust in climate action over poor value for money.”