The partnership will guarantee EDF customers access to a range of high-quality heat pumps from trusted supplier Daikin, and tariffs backed by zero carbon electricity.

It will also play an important role in educating consumers about eco-friendly heating solutions, helping them make sustainable improvements to their homes and ensuring quality heat pump installations, eligible for the Green Homes Grant in England

Launched by the government in September, the Green Homes Grant has encouraged homeowners to explore heat pumps as a renewable, green alternative to fossil-fuel heating by providing them with the chance to apply for vouchers up to the value of £5,000 – with this increasing to £10,000 for low income households – to help cut the cost of green home improvements.

Daikin has over 140 sustainable home installers and experts, plus a rapidly growing network of Sustainable Home Centres and mobile showrooms where the latest heat pump solutions are showcased. EDF customers will be able to access this national team of experts for advice and expertise to make sure their heat pump system is correctly designed and installed, allowing them to access eligible funding, including the Green Homes Grant.

Mainstream adoption of heat pumps as an alternative to gas boilers is seen as being vital to improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s homes and helping the nation’s decarbonisation efforts. As a result of their efficiency, heat pumps can produce 45% fewer carbon emissions and 59% fewer carbon emissions emitted by an oil boiler – a reduction of up to 43.5 tonnes of carbon emissions over the system’s lifetime per home.

Another added benefit for homeowners is that the technology can provide savings over combustible heating systems due to their low running costs. For example, an efficient heat pump is said to be able to save the average UK household up to £378 on heating bills each year compared with a gas boiler, and up to £476 compared with an oil boiler.

Iain Bevan, commercial manager at Daikin UK said: “Positive change has to happen, and this means moving away from using fossil-fuel powered gas boilers, wood fires and other pollutant-expelling heat, and moving towards sustainable methods of heating our homes that are available now.

“There’s a clear role for the heating industry in educating consumers to help them make the right decisions for their homes and our new partnership with EDF provides a great platform to do this. Together we’re able to give consumers access to the advice they need and support them through the full installation process, ensuring they get the best heat pump solution for their home.”

Chris Connon, senior manager of heat at EDF said: “As Britain’s largest generator of zero carbon electricity we’re committed to helping Britain achieve Net Zero. We want to offer our customers smarter, innovative solutions that enable them to change to low-carbon lifestyles, whether that’s by encouraging the switch to electric vehicles, using smart technology within their homes, or considering alternative solutions to heating their home such as heat pumps.

“In fact, by 2035 we aim to help our household customers reduce their collective emissions by the equivalent of more than 70% of that arising from their 2019 electricity and gas use. By partnering with Daikin, we’re able to increase awareness of renewable home heating and more specifically the benefits of heat pumps to our customers, as well as offering them a trusted supplier.”