The plan outlines barriers to widespread heat pump adoption in California and offers strategies to impact the heat pump supply chain within the next five years and create the conditions for rapid market adoption, a press release from CAHPP said.

“The California Heat Pump Partnership is another successful example of a public-private partnership that drives clean energy technology mainstream,” said California Energy Commission chairman David Hochschild. “With the release of the blueprint, the CAHPP is paving the way for innovation in the heat pump market by aligning government, industry, and consumer interests, ensuring all Californians can benefit from modern, efficient heating and cooling technology.”

“This blueprint provides the first clear, coordinated plan between state leaders and major market actors to achieve California’s progressive heat pump target,” said Terra Weeks, the CAHPP director. “Complete with actionable strategies to address a number of current barriers, it is a testament to the partnership’s commitment to rapidly scale the heat pump market across the state.”

Consumer demand in the U.S. for heat pumps has been growing, with installations outpacing those of gas-powered counterparts each year since 2022. But to keep up with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s heat pump target, California needs to more than triple installations, the press release said.

The state currently has an estimated 1.9 million heat pumps deployed, and fewer than 200,000 heat pump installations per year. Even with the implementation of current policies, codes, and incentives, at this rate of adoption California is on track to install only four million heat pumps by 2030, falling short of the goal by two million units. Large-scale, coordinated efforts like the California Heat Pump Partnership are needed to align funding, planning, and major market players for the clean energy transition, the press release said.

“This blueprint marks a major milestone in accelerating heat pump adoption in California,” said LG Electronics USA senior vice president Steve Scarbrough, general manager of LG Air Conditioning Technologies. “The collective efforts of manufacturers, utilities, and state agencies will both strengthen the heat pump supply chain and advance the state’s ambitious 2030 heat pump targets.”