Scotland is warming to the heat pump. Sales are improving, with 5,700 units put in this year so far, up a third on the same period last year. Collectively, they are turning power created by Scotland’s notorious cold wind into warm radiators and toasty hot baths.

In total, there are nearly 42,000 certified heat pumps whirring away in Scotland, according to quality assurance body the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

Demand is growing, but it’s nowhere near where the Scottish Government wants it to be.

If heat pump installations reached five, then six figures, it would dramatically reduce carbon emissions – a giant step towards Scotland’s 2045 net zero target – cut dependency on imported fuel, and for many households, lower energy bills.

But we are miles off achieving that. Labour in Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood have it in their power to catapult Britain up the European heat pump league table, but they’ll have to work together to do it.

Public confidence in the technology is growing, after years of angsty and often misinformed debate. Increasingly people understand that heat pumps won’t leave you shivering in penury and needing to wear ear defenders every time you put out the recycling, as per some hysterical comment.

Read more Rebecca McQuillan

What’s made the real difference to uptake, though, is the generous cash incentives to cover installation costs.

You get a £7,500 Scottish Government grant – £9,000 in rural areas – plus up to £7,500 more as an optional interest-free loan, with further generous help available for insulation. In some........

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