Guidance

Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project (closed)

This project looks to demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale roll-out of innovative heat pump systems in a representative range of British homes.

This guidance was withdrawn on

This project is now closed to applications, and we have announced the successful bids.

The Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale roll-out of heat pumps in Great Britain by installing innovative heat pumps in a representative range of 750 homes, together with new products and services designed to overcome some of the barriers to deployment.

Project objectives

The project objectives are to:

  • develop, test and evaluate innovative products and services that increase the appeal of heat pumps and identify optimal solutions for a wide range of homes
  • demonstrate that heat pumps, including gas-electric hybrids, can deliver high consumer satisfaction across a wide range of consumers in Great Britain
  • demonstrate the practical and technical feasibility of heat pumps, including gas-electric hybrids, across Great Britain’s diverse housing stock
  • capture learning from the project to help improve awareness across the heating supply chain, raise acceptance and support wider deployment of heat pumps in Great Britain

Project delivery

Approximately £14.6 million has been made available as part of the BEIS Energy Innovation Programme’s Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project.

The project will install and monitor 750 innovative heat pump systems across a representative range of housing archetypes, with the majority on the gas grid.

To achieve this, BEIS has appointed:

  • a management contractor to manage and coordinate the project on behalf of BEIS

  • 3 regional delivery contractors to deliver the project

  • an independent evaluation contractor to evaluate the overall delivery of the project against the agreed performance indicators and metrics

Management contractor

In November 2019, a consortium led by Energy Systems Catapult with Delta Energy and Environment and Oxford Computer Consultants was awarded the Management Contract for the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project.

Delivery contractors

A competition to appoint 3 delivery contractors concluded in June 2020. The appointed delivery contractors are:

  • E.ON who will undertake the trial in Newcastle
  • OVO Energy who will undertake the trial in the South East of England
  • Warmworks who will undertake the trial in the South East of Scotland

More details about the 3 delivery contractors can be found on the successful bids page.

Evaluation contractor

In March 2020 ICF Consulting Services Limited was awarded the Evaluation Contract for the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project.

Apply to participate

Members of the public will be able to participate in the project. The heat pumps and energy efficiency upgrades (where appropriate) in eligible homes will be provided free of charge in return for participating in the research and monitoring aspects of the project across the 3 selected areas of Great Britain mentioned above. Further details on how to express interest and take part will be available shortly from the delivery partners (E.On, OVO Energy and Warmworks).

Contact

For any query about participating in the project, please contact the delivery partners.

For any queries about the project, contact heatpumpdemo@beis.gov.uk.

Published 28 August 2019
Last updated 29 June 2020 + show all updates
  1. E.ON, OVO and Warmworks announced as the 3 delivery contractors.

  2. The management contractor for the project has been announced.

  3. Updated information about the processes for tendering and participation.

  4. First published.