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Does demand side response work for heat pumps?


You’ve likely heard of the term demand side response (DSR) by now. In short, it’s the idea that household energy use can be shifted to align with cheaper tariff windows, taking pressure off the grid during peak times. The logic is simple: encourage homeowners to run their heating when electricity is cheapest, then rely on good insulation to hold that warmth through the rest of the day. But this fixed ‘don’t run heating during the day’ approach might not work for all heating systems. Heating specialist Alpha explains


O


n paper, it makes sense for households still reliant on gas heating. Traditional boilers can be timed for short, high-temperature bursts


of activity. They fire up quickly, reach the required flow temperature, and then switch off until the next demand period. Many homeowners already do this with timers: a morning boost to take the chill off, then another in the evening. But for households running heat pumps, this approach could be detrimental.


Where DSR originated from


DSR serves an important purpose at a grid level. It’s designed to balance electricity demand and generation in real time, helping to avoid peaks that require costly and carbon-intensive back-up. When demand surges in the UK, the grid


relies on gas-fired peaker plants to make up the shortfall. These stations are expensive to run, high in emissions, and only operate for short bursts. At the same time, large industrial consumers are sometimes paid to curtail usage to stabilise supply. Both measures keep the system running but add cost and, in the case of gas, carbon. DSR aims to smooth out those peaks by


encouraging flexible consumption. In that sense, it’s a vital tool for a renewables-driven grid. As wind and solar generation grows, having some control over demand will become even more important. But the challenge lies in how DSR is being applied at the household level — especially in homes with heat pumps.


Taking it slow and steady


Heat pumps don’t behave like boilers, and they certainly shouldn’t be operated as if they do. Their efficiency depends on consistency. Running for long periods at lower flow temperatures to maintain a constant, comfortable indoor temperature. Some homeowners might would be tempted,


by the promised savings of DSR, to use their heat pump in this manner. Given heat pumps are about efficiency, the results can be counterproductive. It’s like driving a car, typically you’ll get better


fuel economy holding a steady 50mph than you do constantly accelerating and braking. The same goes for a heat pump. When it runs steadily, it draws less


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power, maintains comfort, and delivers the high efficiencies it was designed for. The “stop-start” logic encouraged by DSR defies


that process. If a homeowner lets their property cool down during expensive tariff periods, the heat pump has to work much harder to bring the temperature back up once the next “cheap” window begins. Instead of saving money, this can lead to harder wear on the compressor, lower efficiency, and higher overall energy consumption.


When inefficiency creeps in


This is the paradox facing many installers: homeowners who’ve embraced flexible tariffs or DSR-type schedules but are disappointed with their heat pump’s performance or running costs. The issue isn’t the technology but in how it’s being used. Heat pumps thrive on steady-state operation, not frequent cycling. Each time the system is forced to stop and start, it loses thermal stability and imposes extra load on components, particularly the compressor. For installers, this is worth paying attention to. A


homeowner following tariff-driven advice to switch their heating on and off might believe they’re saving money, but the reality is the opposite.


Managing expectations


Key is helping homeowners understand that a heat pump’s main advantage is efficiency and sustainability, not necessarily lower energy bills in the short term. Electricity is still more expensive per kilowatt hour than gas, so savings depend heavily on how the system is operated. Installers can add value by revisiting a heat


pump’s commissioning settings. It’s not uncommon for systems to be installed with a higher flow temperature to provide immediate comfort, but lowering those flow temperatures, enabling weather compensation, and ensuring emitters are correctly sized for low-temperature operation can deliver measurable gains. It’s about getting the best from the homeowner’s system without falling into inefficient habits encouraged by tariff chasing.


The hybrid equation


Moving forward, there is another option where households can have both efficiency and cost- effectiveness. Hybrid systems combine an electric heat pump with a gas boiler and can automatically switch between energy sources depending on outdoor temperature, running cost, or available tariffs. Alpha’s range of hybrid systems rely on


intelligent controls to decide in real time which heat source to use for the best efficiency and comfort. Homeowners can still take advantage of cheaper electricity periods when available, confident that the boiler can help provide instant heat or top up when demand is high. For installers, it’s a practical option to discuss with customers looking for balance between sustainability and cost control.


What is the future of DSR?


While DSR is likely to remain a part of the UK’s transition to a low-carbon grid, it’s clear its inherent inflexibility doesn’t fit all technologies. As more heat pumps come online, we need smarter, more adaptive demand management that complements their operating principles rather than contradicts them. Installers will play a key role in that transition


through setting expectations, fine-tuning systems, and helping customers understand that consistency is what makes a heat pump efficient. Until DSR evolves to suit this new generation of


low-temperature systems, honesty and education remain the most powerful tools an installer has.


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