The 2024 Heat Pump Forum, recently hosted in Brussels by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), brought together 250 industry leaders to discuss the transformative role of heat pumps in achieving Europe’s energy and climate goals. Over the course of two days, sessions covered innovations for multi-family buildings, industrial applications, and digital advancements in heat pump technology, establishing a clear consensus that heat pumps are vital to Europe’s energy transition, especially as they expand into commercial and industrial uses.

Heat pumps as key players in Europe’s energy transition

With fossil fuel dependency posing risks to Europe’s energy security, heat pumps offer a sustainable and scalable alternative. The expansion of industrial heat pumps is promising, with potential applications in harnessing waste heat from wastewater, data centres, and more enabling significant progress in decarbonisation without risking deindustrialisation.

The path to transforming goals into action is simple: clear legislation and follow through. In France, for example, legislative policies drove a rise in heat pump use for new multi-family buildings, jumping from 4% in 2018 to 45% by 2023. Such massive growth showcases how legislation can rapidly shift energy use towards greener alternatives.

Smart-grid integration and AI-powered efficiency

Increasingly, heat pumps are being viewed not as a burden on the grid but as essential elements – thermal capacity that enhance grid flexibility. By pairing heat pumps with renewable energy sources like solar PV, and leveraging smart algorithms and AI, the industry is continually optimising energy use and minimising costs.

AI-powered control systems adjust heat pump operations in response to real-time energy prices, making heating and cooling more efficient and grid-friendly. At Grundfos, we’re keeping pace with this potential: Our UPM4 and UPM10 circulator pumps exemplify this shift, integrating seamlessly with digital systems for predictive maintenance and enhanced performance.

Scaling up for multi-family and industrial applications

The future of heat pumps lies not just in individual homes but also in large-scale applications, including multi-family buildings, industrial high-temperature processes, district heating and cooling. In the multi-family building sector, for example, France’s approach offers valuable lessons – showing that clear policy objectives and deadlines can drive significant adoption.

Experts at the forum emphasised that diverse heat pump solutions are necessary to meet the varied needs of multi-family buildings, including individual, collective, centralised, and decentralised systems. In industrial contexts, large heat pumps are beginning to take on a larger role, with opportunities to capture waste heat from various sources and make heating systems more efficient and sustainable.

Policy support is essential for heat-pump growth

Despite the optimism, fair competition remains a challenge. Europe’s heat pump industry faces hurdles due to the high cost of electricity compared to fossil fuels, which have historically received substantial subsidies from governments.

The upcoming Emission Trading Scheme 2 (ETS2), set to start in 2025, will apply a carbon tax to heating, impacting both residential and industrial sectors. Industry leaders are also hopeful that the EU’s anticipated Heat Pump Action Plan will create a more equal regulatory environment that promotes heat pumps as a sustainable alternative to traditional heating.

Looking forward: a collaborative path to net zero

Ultimately, the forum underscored the importance of collaboration among policymakers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders to achieve Europe’s 2030 climate goals. While challenges remain, there’s a renewed optimism that with the right support, heat pumps will become central to Europe’s net-zero future.

As EHPA’s Director General Paul Kenny puts it: “If Europe is serious about decarbonisation, energy independence, and job creation, it must get serious about heat pumps.”

Grundfos is committed to leading this transition, advancing heat pump technology to meet Europe’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a competitive, sustainable industry