As UK homeowners look for ways to move away from gas, oil, and LPG, two low-carbon electric options are leading the charge: heat pumps and heat battery boilers.
Both use electricity. Both reduce your home’s heating emissions. But they work in very different ways. The right choice depends entirely on your property, your budget, and how much installation disruption you are comfortable with.
| Feature | Heat pump | ZEB heat battery boiler |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Moves heat from the air, ground or water into your home. | Stores electricity as heat and releases it when needed. |
| Energy source | Electricity. | Electricity. |
| Outdoor unit | Usually required for an air source heat pump. | No outdoor unit required. |
| Indoor installation | Indoor equipment is usually required as part of the system. | Installed indoors as a boiler replacement, subject to space and access requirements. |
| Existing radiators | May need upgrading, depending on the home and required flow temperatures. | Existing radiators can often be retained, subject to a home suitability check. |
| Flow temperature | Usually works best at lower flow temperatures. | Can deliver high flow temperatures, with an output temperature range up to 80°C. |
| Installation disruption | Can involve system redesign, radiator upgrades or changes to heating controls. | Designed to be a lower-disruption alternative to replacing a fossil fuel boiler, depending on the property. |
| Day-to-day heating style | Often runs for longer periods at lower temperatures. | Designed to provide a more familiar boiler-like heating experience. |
| Efficiency and flexibility | Very efficient when designed and installed well. | Converts electricity into stored heat and is designed to optimise charging around time-of-use tariffs. |
| Storage capacity | Not applicable in the same way; heat is generated as the system runs. | Stores up to 40kWh of usable heat. |
| Best suited to | Homes suitable for low-temperature heating and an outdoor unit. | Homes where a heat pump may be difficult, disruptive or impractical. |
| Grant support | Currently eligible for Boiler Upgrade Scheme support, subject to eligibility. | Government has announced future £2,500 BUS support for heat batteries once standards are in place; tepeo is currently offering an early £2,500 grant match. |
Really attentive customer service from Tepeo. Nothing is too much trouble. We had some questions before and after installation that were all answered very thoroughly. Now that we’re used to the ZEB, we have got it set up so that it best suits our needs. Oh, and our cat loves sleeping on it!
For us, the ZEB was much cheaper to install than a replacement oil boiler as the regulations have changed and we would have had to have a new flue or put the boiler outside. After a year, we think running costs are similar to oil. We had one breakdown but Tepeo sent a technician to replace a faulty part the next day. Weekday support is excellent. Delighted we went with a green solution. A heat pump was not suitable for our house. The ZEB is an excellent product and deserves to be much better known.
The ZEB is an electric heating system that stores electricity as heat in a thermal core, then releases it when your home needs it. Put simply: it charges like a battery and heats like a boiler.
Installed entirely indoors – no outdoor unit or flue required.
Works with many existing wet central heating systems (radiators/underfloor heating).
Charges using off-peak electricity (with a suitable smart tariff) to save on running costs.
Delivers high flow temperatures, feeling exactly like a traditional boiler.
Stores up to 40kWh of heat, so your home’s specific heat demand must be assessed.
Works best with a smart meter and a time-of-use tariff.
Requires a solid, level indoor surface and appropriate access.
A heat pump is a highly efficient low-carbon system that uses electricity to move naturally occurring heat from the outside air, ground, or water into your home.
Provides highly efficient low-carbon heating and hot water.
Works exceptionally well with good insulation and low-temperature systems.
Currently eligible for Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) support.
Requires suitable outdoor space for an external unit.
Installation is often more involved and may require changing radiators or pipework.
Requires a change in heating habits (running steadily at lower temperatures).
A heat pump installation often involves assessing and upgrading your whole heating system (radiators, pipework, and insulation).
The ZEB, however, is designed as a direct, lower-disruption alternative to a fossil fuel boiler, perfect for homes where external changes are difficult (like flats, terraces, or conservation areas).
Heat pumps optimise for efficiency, they produce more heat energy than the electricity they use.
The ZEB optimizes for flexibility, it converts electricity into stored heat during cheaper, off-peak periods, reducing the need to use peak-time grid electricity while providing a predictable, high-temperature output.
While heat pumps are currently supported by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Government has announced future £2,500 BUS support for heat batteries.
You don’t have to wait: tepeo is currently offering an early £2,500 Grant Match on the ZEB to help eligible customers reduce their upfront costs today.
Every home is different. The best next step is to check whether your property is suitable.
Take our short home check, which will tell you if your home is suitable for a heat battery boiler. If your home is suitable, you’ll be given the option to book if with a member of our team to discuss your requirements and queries in more detail, free of charge.
A heat battery can be a good alternative for households looking for low-carbon electric heating without an outdoor unit. It stores electricity as heat and releases it when needed, helping to provide a familiar central heating experience.
No. The ZEB heat battery boiler is installed indoors and does not require an outdoor unit or flue.
In many homes, yes. The ZEB is designed to work with traditional wet central heating systems, such as radiators or underfloor heating. Suitability depends on the property, the heating system and the home’s heat demand.
The Government has announced that heat batteries will be eligible for a £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant once the relevant product, design and installation standards are in place. tepeo is currently offering an early £2,500 grant match on the ZEB.
It depends on the home, tariff and installation. Heat pumps are usually more efficient because they move heat rather than generate it directly. A heat battery works differently: it stores electricity as heat and is designed to make use of off-peak or flexible tariffs. A suitability check can help you understand which option may work best for your home.
A heat battery can be a good option for homes without suitable outdoor space because it does not require an outdoor unit. This may make it suitable for some flats, terraces and homes where external changes are difficult.