Heating plant
Gas Boiler vs Heat Pump for Greenhouse Heating
Heat plant choice is decided by the local ratio of gas price to electricity price, by grid connection capacity, and by whether the crop needs CO₂. Neither option is universally cheaper — the tariff structure at your site decides it.
Direct answer
Which is cheaper to run, a gas boiler or a heat pump?
It depends on your delivered tariffs. A heat pump at COP 3.5 needs electricity to cost less than about 3.5 times the gas price per kWh to win on fuel. Include capacity and standing charges, and check whether losing flue CO₂ costs you yield.
| Dimension | Gas boiler / CHP | Electric heat pump |
|---|---|---|
| Plant CAPEX | USD 120K–300K / ha (boiler + distribution) | USD 350K–900K / ha incl. buffer and grid works |
| Efficiency | 88–95% thermal | COP 2.5–4.0 depending on source and flow temperature |
| Running cost driver | Gas price per kWh | Electricity price ÷ COP |
| CO₂ dosing | Flue CO₂ available from boiler / CHP | None — needs liquid CO₂ or external supply |
| Flow temperature fit | Any; suits high-temperature pipe rail | Best with low-temperature, large-surface heating |
| Grid requirement | Modest | Significant; connection capacity is often the blocker |
| Emissions and permitting | Exposed to carbon pricing and phase-out rules | Aligned with decarbonisation policy and incentives |
| Resilience | Simple, well-understood service base | Needs buffer tank and often a backup peak boiler |
Cost delta at a glance
- •Heat pumps beat gas on running cost roughly when the electricity price is below the gas price multiplied by the COP — check your actual delivered tariffs, including standing and capacity charges.
- •Grid reinforcement is frequently the largest hidden line: USD 100K–500K and 12–36 months in constrained regions.
- •Losing flue CO₂ can cost 5–15% of yield on tomato and cucumber unless liquid CO₂ supply is budgeted.
Planning-grade ranges for budgeting only. Actual pricing depends on site, specification, climate and supplier scope.
Choose Gas boiler / CHP when
- Sites with cheap gas, weak grid capacity or urgent build timelines
- Crops that depend on flue CO₂ dosing for yield
- Peak-load duty alongside a heat pump in a hybrid plant
Choose Electric heat pump when
- High carbon pricing, gas phase-out rules or available electrification incentives
- Low-temperature heating design with screens and good insulation
- Sites with confirmed grid capacity and competitive electricity tariffs
Frequently asked questions
Related planning resources
Other system comparisons
Polycarbonate vs Polyfilm Greenhouse CoveringGreenhouse coveringPad-and-Fan vs Mechanical (HVAC) Greenhouse CoolingGreenhouse coolingHydroponic NFT vs Substrate Growing SystemsGrowing systemGutter-Connect Greenhouse vs Multi-Tunnel StructuresGreenhouse structurePainted Steel vs Hot-Dip Galvanised Greenhouse FramesStructure materialsGlass Greenhouse vs Plastic GreenhouseGreenhouse typeHigh-Tech vs Low-Tech GreenhouseTechnology levelLED Supplemental Lighting vs No Supplemental LightingLightingNew Greenhouse Build vs Retrofit of an Existing HouseProject route