Are heat pumps a good idea with such a dirty energy mix?

?“If you use a heat pump you’re still powering it using coal and other dirty energy sources.” ? ??

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Yes, it’s true.

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Everyone has heard this argument before, and it isn’t entirely wrong.

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But it is completely wrong and illogical to dissuade people from switching to heat pumps. ??

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Allow me to debunk this argument ? so that it doesn’t get in the way of progress ?? ??.

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1) The current energy mix used by most energy providers is dirty, but it is getting cleaner.

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Not everywhere and not consistently, but it is improving. This means that within a heat pump’s expected lifetime – which is 25 years - you should see a much larger green power source share over time. ??

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Of course, we are currently in tumultuous times where volatility in the energy markets is common. Geostrategic events are constantly affecting the price of fuels and countries are still scrambling to adapt to the new harsh reality that the climate is presenting us with.

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Nevertheless, with most countries in agreement in principle, almost all policies strive to improve our global energy mix ?? ? ??, albeit at different speeds and with different starting points.

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2) Not switching to a heat pump will lock you into a dirtier solution.

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Yes, gas or oil is far dirtier, and the heating equipment will last for 15+ years ??. This option will incur higher running costs over time as these systems and fuels become a target for disincentivization by governments. Dropping such a solution halfway through its life means owners won’t have extracted most of its value. Essentially, there aren’t many other clean options.

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3) A heat pump is much more efficient.

Heat pumps still are 300%-400% more efficient than other heating solutions ?? ?? irrespective of the energy source.

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That means that – using a 100% dirty energy source – a heat pump will use 25% of the energy needed by the alternative.

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But as a heat pump uses the grid it most likely uses at least some renewable energy compared to another solution. This just adds to the fact that it is still a much better option than almost any other alternative.?

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4) You could power a heat pump through solar PV or a green energy provider.

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Yep, that would solve the problem quickly and decisively. Solar PV and heat pumps are a match made in heaven ??????.

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Not only would you power your own 100% clean heating and cooling but you would also be able to use your home as a thermal battery to balance out your solar energy usage.

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Or, if you can’t install solar PV, you may have access to a 100% green energy provider.

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5)? Heat pump adoption drives better energy policy.

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Shifting energy consumption through electrification places the onus on policy makers ??? to push forward with a cleaner energy mix.

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If consumers are responsible and switch to heat pumps then policy makers won’t want to carry the burden of a poor energy policy by themselves.

This means that the power is in the consumer’s hands (to an extent!).

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If you are on the fence about buying a heat pump but the energy mix is bothering your conscience, then take action by switching to a heat pump and taking away any excuse policymakers come up with for not cleaning up your national energy mix fast enough ???.

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6) Increased demand for heat pumps drives innovation, improvement, and lower prices.

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The more heat pumps are sold, the cheaper they get. As manufacturers develop greater economies of scale, and the more investment goes into innovation things will get even better for the consumer.

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Greater choice, better performing products, a wider service network, greater product quality, greater supplier competition, new and improved designs, new feature rollouts and a more experienced installer pool – these are the benefits that we’ll reap from a greater heat pump adoption. What’s not to like ?????

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7) As the adoption of heat pumps continues, it accelerates.

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What does this mean?

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In my previous post, The Death of Gas Heating: First Gradually, Then Suddenly I explained why I believe gas distribution network retirement will force a swift switchover to heat pumps.

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As dirty heating methods are abandoned, they become less desirable due to increasing fuel distribution costs.

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This switchover will speed up ??and heat pump demand will accelerate even more. As policymakers are already faced with decisions on gas network retirement, they will need to balance this out with increased green energy sources for “The Great Electrification”.

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8) Switching sooner will contribute to the establishment of the new status quo.

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If you look at the Diffusion of Innovation Theory ??, the heat pump market is technically at its early stages despite the technology having been on the market for more than three decades.

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Since the technology has only recently started to capture market share, they buyers are essentially “innovators” and “early adopters”. Only in countries like Norway, Sweden and Finland can we talk about late majority buyers.

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The new status quo will eventually be electrified heating through heat pumps. Despite incentives being available currently, with no guarantee they will be around in the future, there is – pragmatically - no other option.

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Not switching now actually means prolonging the dirtier alternative of fossil fuels ? ?? or inefficient heating. The faster we individually switch over by becoming innovators and early adopters, the faster the market will adopt heat pumps as the new status quo.

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So, what are you waiting for?

Are you still worried about the dirty energy mix?

You should be, so go ahead and switch over to a heat pump today ??!

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