Heat pump sales in Europe rose by 11%
In the first half of 2026, sales of residential heat pumps in twelve European countries increased by 11% compared with the same period of the previous year. According to the European Heat Pump Association, 1,163,000 units were sold versus 1,048,000 units in January–June 2025.
Countries included in the list:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Sweden
Reasons for accelerating demand 📈
The acceleration in demand was driven by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026, which led to a sharp rise in oil and gas prices. Following this, the European Commission published plans to cut taxes on electricity and speed up the phase-out of fossil fuels, which, according to industry experts, directly affected the sales dynamics of heat pumps.
EHPA position
EHPA CEO Paul Kenny noted that Europe is shedding its dependence on expensive and toxic gas supplied by unreliable partners. He emphasized the need to make electricity the most affordable energy carrier by shifting the tax burden from electricity to fossil fuels, as the Netherlands and Belgium have already done.
Electrification plan and taxes ⚡
In the Electrification Plan, the European Commission explicitly stated that the tax on electricity should not exceed the tax on gas, and proposed revising grid tariffs, encouraging the use of flexible solutions, including heat pumps. At present, in most countries, taxes on electricity remain higher than those on gas, which significantly increases the operating costs of such equipment.