Heat pump sales up 60% in first half, ministry expects record year

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has published statistics according to which 40 thousand heat pumps were supplied to the Czech market in the first half of this year. This represents an increase of 60% compared with the first half of last year. Although the Ministry of Industry and Trade expects lower deliveries in the second half, 2023 should be a record year.

The heat pump sector has seen a sharp increase in sales since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to a statistical survey by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Around 40 thousand heat pumps were sold in the first half of this year. This is more than in each of the years from 2010 to 2021. For example, 30 165 heat pumps were sold in the whole of 2021.

Before Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the upward trend in sales was rather gradual. In the first year of the invasion of Ukraine, sales already doubled. According to Ministry of Industry and Trade data, this year also appears set to be a record year, and sales of up to 100 000 heat pumps cannot be ruled out.

"If this sales trend were to continue in the second half of 2023, up to 100 thousand heat pumps would be delivered this year. However, supplier companies report that a large share of this year's deliveries has only fulfilled last year's orders, that this year's orders have declined year-on-year and that a recovery is not expected until autumn. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that heat pump deliveries this year will reach at least 75 thousand units," the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in its report on the statistical survey.

The majority of heat pumps sold were air-to-water models (around 96%). The remaining approximately 4% consisted mainly of ground-water heat pumps.

There were several reasons for the increase in heat pump sales. First and foremost, rising commodity prices (gas and electricity) can be highlighted. Sales were also affected by new legislative requirements that will apply to the construction of new family and apartment buildings.