The Heat Pump Field Trials
The UK’s BEIS (now DESNZ) commissioned extensive field trials of heat pump performance in real UK homes. The most comprehensive study — conducted by Electrification of Heat — measured real-world performance across thousands of installations.
Key Findings
- Average CoP of monitored UK heat pumps: 2.8 overall
- Best performers: CoP 3.5–4.0 with correct installation and settings
- Systems with weather compensation enabled: significantly higher CoP
- Systems with high flow temperatures: significantly lower CoP
Why Some Systems Underperform
The research identified key causes of underperformance:
- Flow temperatures too high
- Weather compensation not enabled
- Oversized systems short-cycling
- Insufficient insulation
All of these are addressable through correct installation and commissioning.
What This Means
A well-installed, correctly commissioned heat pump achieves CoP 3.5+ in UK conditions. The average figure of 2.8 reflects installation quality variation across the industry — emphasising the importance of choosing an MCS-accredited installer.
Sources: Energy Systems Catapult and Nesta's research.
