[kieranmaine]

Air source heat pumps are more efficient than gas boilers so total energy usage would decrease [1]. Running costs are also lower, but installations cost are currently higher.

You would need to generate more electricity, although this could be mitigated through improved insulation and smart control of heating systems (for example turning off the heating for 30 minutes during spikes in usage, assuming the temperature is above a certain level).

[1] https://www.edfenergy.com/heating/advice/air-source-heat-pum...

[riversflow]

I'm not particularly thinking of domestic heat production, I agree that heat pumps (ground source, or a pool if you have it, works even better!) are the future of domestic HVAC. I'm thinking about heating for industrial processes, turning off the factory for 30+ minutes during a useage spike is a minor catastrophe if unplanned, you'd either have to design your shift around it (we had time-of-use power pricing and did this) or just close down. I won't rule out heat pumps as being part of the solution out of hand, but from your source:

>Lower output temperature than conventional boilers – you may need to update your insulation and invest in bigger radiators too

is a pretty big problem when you are trying to heat industrial quantities of things up to industrial process temps at industrial rates.