Guest post by Michael Hanratty, founder and CEO, BERWOW

Ireland is at a pivotal moment in its efforts to decarbonise home heating. Gas may be framed as a transitional fuel, but data suggests that when it comes to Irish homes, it could remain a mainstay. At exactly the time when we must aggressively move away from fossil fuels, many homeowners feel tempted to double down on gas rather than switch to heat pumps, which, if widely adopted, promise to significantly cut residential emissions. However, high costs - even with grants - combined with the pull effect of sticking with what you know, have so far meant that installation rates remain too low to make a meaningful impact.

A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report showed that heating in homes and buildings was the only sector in Ireland that failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions last year. This trend is particularly concerning because Ireland is already one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gasses per capita in Europe, leaving us facing multibillion-euro fines - estimated at up to €28 billion - for missing our mandatory EU emissions reduction targets. Against this backdrop, the sluggish uptake of heat pumps is not just disappointing; it represents a national risk.

Barriers to installation

One of the great misconceptions surrounding heat pumps is that they are suitable only for new-builds or extensively retrofitted homes. In reality, most houses built from 2000 onwards are already 'heat pump ready'. The barriers, then, are less about feasibility and more about public buy-in.

Data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and EPA, recently showed that current installation rates mean we will miss the 2030 Climate Action Plan target of 400,000 installed heat pumps. One fundamental issue is that many homeowners remain unsure about the upgrade process, uncertain about the potential disruption involved, and increasingly concerned about costs. Faced with the choice between replacing a gas boiler with another gas boiler, or investing an additional €5,000 or more in a heat pump, it is understandable why many stick with what they know (and can afford). Meanwhile, concerns about electricity prices create further unease. Despite the efficiency gains of heat pumps, many fear that running costs will exceed their existing fossil fuelled systems.

Cost concerns are compounded by issues within the retrofitting industry. Costs associated with retrofitting - labour, equipment and materials - have all risen sharply in recent years. And, while the price of installing or replacing a gas or oil boiler has remained relatively stable, the upfront cost of heat pumps has climbed significantly, creating a widening affordability gap. Without addressing this imbalance, the economics will continue to work against heat pump installations and, as a result, our climate targets.

The industry also lacks enough trained heat pump installers to meet current or future demand. Fossil-fuel plumbers remain busy, removing any immediate incentive to retrain. To shift this dynamic, training must become far more accessible and attractive. Online learning that won't negatively impact productivity could help. A coordinated push to train plumbers during the summer, when workloads are traditionally lighter, would also make a difference. For highly experienced plumbers, streamlined certification processes could bring skilled professionals into the heat pump market quickly.

Incentivising homeowners

Regulation and finance must move in lockstep with skills development. The Irish Renovation Passport, due in 2026, has the potential to give homeowners a clear, personalised roadmap for energy upgrades - with solutions like BERWOW able to help homeowners plan renovations and keep sight of costs.

But information without incentive is not enough. If these supports are to be transformative, they need to be paired with stronger financial incentives, including expanded grants and the introduction of state-ba...