Heat pump installations down 17%
UK – MCS certified heat pump installations across the UK fell by 17% in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
The latest figures from MCS reveal that, overall, small scale renewables installations reached a record 210,000, 17% ahead of 2025, led by solid growth for solar and battery storage.
Heat pump slowdown raises concern
Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of Heat Pump Association UK, said the fall in certified installations was disappointing, particularly against the backdrop of record wider renewables activity.
She said: “It’s fantastic to see a record number of renewable installs, however it’s disappointing that MCS certified heat pump installations are not following this trend. The closure of the Energy Company Obligation and slower deployment of heat pumps through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund are directly impacting the domestic retrofit market and supply chain.
“Despite this, HPA UK data for H1 2026 shows that sales of space heating heat pumps have grown by 2% from H1 2025. This has been driven by deployment into new build following confirmation of the Future Homes and Buildings Standard, with installations in new build properties 23% higher in H1 2026 than H1 2025.
“To ensure the retrofit market can sustain growth, Government must urgently clarify future support for low-income households and introduce the zero/low-interest consumer loans promised in the Warm Homes Plan.”
Solar and battery storage lead growth
According to MCS, almost 150,000 solar PV installations were completed between January and June 2026, representing a 14% increase on the same period last year. The organisation said solar has become the biggest driver of overall growth, with annual records now expected to be broken for the second consecutive year after it took nearly 15 years for the previous long-standing record to be surpassed.
Battery storage also posted strong growth, with 36,000 certified installations in the first half alone, almost double the level seen over the same period in 2025. That means the previous annual record of 40,000 installations is close to being overtaken after just six months.
MCS said the figures equate to one certified installation every 74 seconds.
Households increasingly adopting multiple technologies
The data also points to growing consumer interest in installing more than one renewable technology at home. One in three installations so far this year were either added to properties that already had an MCS certified renewable system or formed part of a combined installation involving more than one technology.
This trend is particularly evident in battery storage, with 92% of battery systems installed in 2026 so far being fitted on properties that also have solar panels.
Lisa Cooke, Managing Director at MCS, said the figures show rising household confidence in self-generated energy and in certified installers.
“More and more households are gaining confidence in the benefits of home-grown energy, and the fact that many are now investing in multiple technologies is testament to this.”
Cooke also said MCS’s role as both a standards body and consumer protection organisation is becoming more significant as demand grows. She pointed to the redevelopment of the MCS Scheme and new rules that installers will need to comply with by 31 March 2027, including stronger financial protection and a legally binding requirement to adhere to consumer protection law.
Government highlights bill-saving potential
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the figures demonstrate increasing uptake of clean energy technologies by households seeking lower running costs and greater energy security.
He said a typical home could save up to £550 per year by installing a heat pump, solar PV and a battery together, adding that the latest data supports the Government’s focus on domestic, controllable energy sources.
The first-half figures are also being supported by the new build sector. MCS said 25% of installations in 2026 were on new build properties. Solar is proving particularly strong in this market, with latest data for the first quarter of 2026 indicating that an estimated 59% of new homes were fitted with MCS certified solar panels as the sector prepares for the Future Homes Standard.
Industry sees continued demand for solar
Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK, said the continued rise in solar and battery uptake reflects ongoing pressure from energy prices and the relative ease of deployment.
He said more households are choosing technologies that can cut bills quickly, while also reducing reliance on gas. For installers and suppliers, the figures point to continued strength in the residential solar and storage market, particularly where homeowners are looking to combine technologies for greater savings and resilience.
