The Heat Pump Association (HPA) celebrated its 30th anniversary on 26th November with its inaugural conference, convening members, policymakers, and industry leaders to examine three decades of progress and strategise on accelerating future developments. The event, staged at the British Library in London, followed the HPA’s Annual General Meeting, where the Association presented its AGM report, detailing the past year’s achievements and outlining priorities for the coming year. The full report can be accessed via the HPA website.
Under the theme ‘Heat Pumps: How to go further, faster…’, the conference focused on practical measures to speed up deployment, enhance skills, and boost consumer confidence as part of the UK’s broader electrification of heat strategy. The event opened with a video address from Minister for Energy Consumers, Martin McCluskey MP, who reiterated the Government’s commitment to low-carbon heating technologies and the importance of industry collaboration for a successful transition. His remarks were particularly timely, coinciding with the release of the Autumn Budget, which influenced subsequent discussions on sector impact and energy costs.
The conference featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Paul Kenny, Director General at the European Heat Pump Association, and Nick Winser, Commissioner at the Clean Power Advisory Commission. Sessions addressed topics such as heat networks and the new MCS installer scheme, with discussions on policy, innovation, and delivery. A panel discussion concluded the afternoon, featuring Dr Emily Nurse (CCC), Madeleine Gabriel (Nesta), Damon Blakemore (HPA Installer Representative), Dr Richard Lowes (Regulatory Assistance Project), and Samantha Hewson (DESNZ), who debated strategies to build supply chain momentum and accelerate heat pump deployment.
The day ended with a networking reception, where HPA Chair Mark Wilkins delivered closing remarks, and Craig Dolan, past HPA Chair, was honoured with an Exceptional Member Contribution award for his dedication to the Association. Reflecting on the event, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the HPA, praised the gathering of members, stakeholders, and policymakers, noting the sector’s strength and shared ambition for low-carbon heating. She emphasised the industry’s progress and determination to collaborate and innovate for a sustainable energy future.
Industry leaders echoed these sentiments. Jon Rand, Industry Expert and Growth Enablement Manager at E.ON Next, highlighted the event’s role in driving innovation and collaboration within the low-carbon heating industry, aligning with E.ON Next’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Paul Smith, Managing Director at NIBE, and Anna Wakefield, Head of Internal Sales and Marketing at Grant UK, commended the conference’s clarity on future challenges and opportunities, underscoring the importance of industry cooperation.
