Raising product standards for space heating - Part 1: Enabling electrification of heat - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - Citizen Space

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Part 1: Enabling electrification of heat

Part 1 of this consultation sets out proposals to update ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for heat pumps. In addition, we propose to introduce new requirements for hybrid heat pumps, as well as amendments to ensure hot water cylinders are compatible with heat pumps and designed to work in a wet low-temperature heating system. In summary, the proposals included in Part 1 are to:

amend the primary energy factor for electricity, used to calculate seasonal space heating energy efficiency for space heaters, to 1.9
increase MEPS for low- and medium-temperature heat pumps, and introduce new energy performance standards for high-temperature heat pumps
amend the definition of low-temperature heat pumps, and introduce new definitions for medium- and high-temperature heat pumps
update the testing methodology required to establish the seasonal space heating energy efficiency of heat pumps and hybrid heat pumps, in line with EU law
explore amendments to hot water cylinders to make them low-temperature systems / heat pump compatible
create a new definition for hybrid heat pumps
introduce MEPS for hybrid heat pumps

These policy proposals are part of a wider package of policies which aim to scale up heat pump deployment and support industry to reduce the upfront and ongoing costs of heat pumps.

1. Do you agree with lowering the primary energy factor for electricity to 1.9 from mid-2026?

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2. Do you agree that we should raise the MEPS to 170% for low-temperature heat pumps under tier 1?

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3. Do you agree that the tier 1 increase in MEPS to 170% for low-temperature heat pumps should take effect from mid-2027?

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4. Do you agree that we should raise the MEPS to 175% for low-temperature heat pumps under tier 2?

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5. Do you agree that the tier 2 increase in MEPS to 175% for low-temperature heat pumps should take effect from mid-2029?

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6. Do you agree that we should raise the MEPS to 168% for medium-temperature heat pumps under tier 1?

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7. Do you agree that the tier 1 increase in MEPS to 168% for medium-temperature heat pumps should take effect from mid-2027?

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8. Do you agree that we should raise the MEPS to 175% for medium-temperature heat pumps?

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9. Do you agree that the tier 2 increase in MEPS to 175% for medium-temperature heat pumps should take effect from mid-2029?

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10. Do you agree that we should raise the MEPS to 143% for high-temperature heat pumps under tier 1?

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11. Do you agree that the tier 1 increase in MEPS to 143% for high-temperature heat pumps should take effect from mid-2027?

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12. Do you agree that we should raise the MEPS to 153% for high-temperature heat pumps under tier 2?

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13. Do you agree that this tier 2 increase in MEPS to 153% for high-temperature heat pumps should take effect from mid-2029?

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14. Do you have any views on whether the MEPS could be implemented at a faster rate, with tier 1 in mid-2026 and tier 2 in mid-2028?

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15. Do you have any views on the interaction between the MEPS proposals for heat pumps and the EU’s f-gas regulations?

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16. What would be the impact of requiring heat pumps to meet the MEPS for all temperature applications they operate at?

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17. Do you agree that BS EN 14825:2022 and BS EN 14511-2-2022 are appropriate means of calculating the seasonal space heating energy efficiency for a heat pump, despite the fact that they are currently behind a paywall?

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18. Do these definitions adequately cover all current and future heat pumps? If not, what elements do you recommend should be changed and why?

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19. Do you agree with the proposed definitions for low-temperature, medium-temperature and high-temperature heat pump space heater? If not, what elements do you recommend should be changed and why?

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20. Do you agree with the proposed definitions for low-temperature, medium-temperature and high-temperature application? If not, what elements do you recommend should be changed and why?

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21. How should regulations define a low-temperature compatible hot water storage tank? What are the key constituent elements of this definition?

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22. Do you agree that a heat pump compatible symbol on an energy label would help futureproof hot water cylinders?

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23. Should stratification be incorporated into the requirements of ecodesign (812/2013), to support hot water cylinder heat pump compatibility?

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24. Should coil sizing be incorporated into the requirements of ecodesign (812/2013), to support hot water cylinder heat pump compatibility?

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25. Do you agree with (a) the proposed definition of hybrid heat pump and (b) adjusting the definition of a heat pump space heater to reduce duplication? If not, what elements do you recommend should be changed and why?

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26. Do you agree that we should set a MEPS at 125% for hybrid heat pumps?

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27. Do you agree that this should be for medium-temperature (55°C flow temperature) hybrid heat pumps?

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28. Do you agree that the implementation of new MEPS for hybrid heat pumps should align with the tier 1 heat pump MEPS proposals, taking effect from mid-2027?

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29. Do you agree that either test methods (combined or separate) should be acceptable for testing the seasonal space heating energy efficiency for hybrids heat pumps?

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30. Do you agree that BS EN 14825:2022 and BS EN 15502-2-3:2023 are appropriate means of calculating the seasonal space heating energy efficiency for a hybrid heat pump, despite the fact that they are currently behind a paywall?

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31. Do you agree with the information requirements for hybrid heat pumps as per Table 1 (regulation18(6) Table 2A of the Draft SI)?

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32. Are there any elements missing from Table 1 (regulation18(6) Table 2A of the Draft SI) that should be added?

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33. Are there any elements in Table 1 (regulation18(6) Table 2A of the Draft SI) that should be removed?

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34. On the balance of pros and cons, should we encourage and enable hybrid heat pumps to play a significant, and potentially widespread, role in heat decarbonisation?

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35. Do you agree that we should not currently be looking to introduce mandating a minimum efficiency of more than 100%, which would, in effect, phase out installation of standalone fossil fuel boilers?

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