Working with heat pumps in Ireland: a qualitative study

Extended abstract 1-131-26

Ireland needs to reduce the emissions of its residential sector by 40% from 2018 to 2030 (Government of Ireland, 2025). To achieve this reduction, the government aims to support the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing dwellings. Projections indicate a dramatic shortfall in meeting these targets by 2030 with existing measures (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, 2024).  While multiple factors are undoubtedly at play, such as the high cost and complexity of retrofitting a heat pump among private householders, the perspectives of supply-side actors – most notably existing or potential heat pump installers – have been scantly explored, despite their central role in facilitating this heating transition. In this study, we explore heat pump installation in Ireland using social practice theory (Shove et al., 2012) to develop insights into how the supply of heat pump installers and the quality of heat pump installation can be increased. We examine multiple dimensions of heat pump installation: 1) the sub-practices and processes of everyday heat pump installation, such as sizing heat pumps and engaging with the grant system; 2) the materials, meanings, and skills that combine in performances of heat pump installation, and how these elements might vary from performances of fossil-fuel central heating installation; and 3) the complexes of adjacent practices upon which heat pump installation depends, such as supplying heat pumps and retrofitting heat pump-ready homes. To explore these dimensions, we gathered and analysed data from semi-structured and informal qualitative interviews with individuals who work with heat pumps in Ireland. By identifying the sub-practices, processes, elements, and complexes of heat pump installation as a performance in Ireland, policies and programmes can be developed to recruit new practitioners from adjacent areas of trade and improve installation standards nationwide.

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