Post-Hormuz European heat pump sales up 11% in first half of 2026
Belgium – Residential heat pump sales across 12 European markets rose by 11% in the first half of 2026, with around 1.16 million units sold compared with 1.05 million in the same period last year, according to new figures from the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA). EHPA
The increase comes against the backdrop of renewed volatility in fossil fuel markets following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East at the end of February.
EHPA’s figures cover Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.
Across those countries, residential heat pump sales increased from 1,048,000 units during the first six months of 2025 to approximately 1,163,000 in the equivalent period this year. EHPA
EHPA identifies higher oil and gas prices following the Hormuz disruption, together with moves by the European Commission to reduce the cost disadvantage faced by electricity, as likely contributors to the increase. The association has consistently argued that the relative price of electricity and fossil fuels is an important factor influencing heat pump uptake.
Energy shock strengthens electrification case
Paul Kenny, director general of EHPA, called for governments to respond by shifting the tax burden away from electricity and towards fossil fuels.
The sooner electricity becomes the most affordable solution, the quicker we’ll get clean.
Paul Kenny
The European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan, published in July, is intended to narrow the cost gap between electricity and fossil fuels and encourage technologies including heat pumps. It is accompanied by proposals covering taxation, network charges and smart meters, including measures intended to ensure electricity is not taxed more heavily than gas. Energy
Electricity-to-gas price gap remains a barrier
Electricity currently costs around three times more than gas in many European countries, according to the Commission, weakening the economic case for households switching from gas boilers to heat pumps.
The Electrification Action Plan sets a pathway towards reducing that differential by 2030, targeting household electricity prices of no more than 2.5 times the price of gas. The Commission says switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump can cut an average EU household’s heating bill by up to 60%, although actual savings depend on factors including national energy prices and system performance.
