European heat pump sales rose 11 per cent in the first half of 2026, with homeowners across 12 European countries buying around 1.163 million units, up from 1.048 million in the same period of 2025. The figures from the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) point to higher oil and gas prices after the Strait of Hormuz crisis and electricity-tax cuts as the drivers of the rebound.
The 12 countries tracked — Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden — represent roughly 80 per cent of the European market.
FAKTA
- Sales: Around 1,163,000 residential heat pumps sold in H1 2026, up 11% from 1,048,000 in H1 2025.
- Source: European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), September 2026.
- Markets: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden — about 80% of the European market.
- Drivers: Soaring oil and gas prices after the Strait of Hormuz disruption in February 2026, plus moves to cut electricity taxes.
- Policy: The European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan says electricity should be taxed no more heavily than gas, and targets 4 million annual heat pump installations in Europe by 2030.
The post-Hormuz energy shock
Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026 sent oil and gas prices skyrocketing, with crude reported as high as $126 per barrel in late April. Soon afterwards, the European Commission published plans encouraging EU governments to lower electricity taxes to speed up the shift away from oil and gas.
EHPA has long argued that heat pump sales depend strongly on the price of electricity — and the 2026 rebound is its case in point: as gas grew expensive and electricity became relatively cheaper, the economic case for heat pumps strengthened considerably.
Taxes make the difference
“Europe is ending its addiction to a toxic, costly drug from dodgy suppliers — gas,” said Paul Kenny, EHPA’s director general. “The sooner electricity becomes the most affordable solution, the quicker we’ll get clean. The fix? Dropping taxes on electricity and shifting them over to fossil fuels. The European Commission has made this clear — but now all EU governments must enact it, following in the footsteps of the Netherlands and Belgium.”
The Commission’s Electrification Action Plan specifically says tax on electricity should be no higher than on gas, and proposes revising network charges on power bills to reward flexible options like heat pumps. For now, EHPA’s findings show taxes on electricity are frequently higher than on gas.
What comes next
The rebound marks a welcome reversal after a sluggish period for the industry, and the Electrification Action Plan’s target of 4 million annual installations by 2030 shows the scale of ambition. But advocates warn that sustained policy support — especially on tax and network charges — will be essential to keep sales climbing and to meet long-term targets for phasing out fossil fuel heating.
