This paper presents and demonstrates a methodology to explore the flexibility of a heat pump pool. Three points are in the focus of this work: First the procedure to model a pool of residential heat pump systems. Second the study of the response of a large number of heat pumps when the Smart-Grid-Ready interface is used for direct load control. Third a general assessment of flexibility of a pool of heat pump systems. The presented pool model accounts for the diversity in space heating and domestic hot water demands, the types of heat source and heat distribution systems used and system sizing procedures. The model is validated using field test data. Flexibility is identified by sending trigger signals to a pool of 284 SG-Ready heat pumps and evaluating the response. Flexibility is characterized by maximum power, shiftable energy and regeneration time. Results show that flexibility is highly dependent on the ambient temperature and the use of an electric back-up heater. It is found that using SG-Ready-like signals offers significantly higher flexibility than just switching off heat pumps, as it is mostly done today. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.