Support Action for Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are a promising and more sustainable alternative to provide heating and cooling services, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
Over the next three years, EnergyVille/VITO, in collaboration with the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) and Fraunhofer, will establish a self-sustaining Heat Pump Accelerator Platform. This platform will (1) coordinate the accelerated deployment of heat pumps in line with current EU policies, (2) monitor and evaluate the progress of the sector, and (3) define R&I&D priorities across the 27 Member States.
Project overview
Heat pumps are increasingly recognised as a sustainable solution for heating and cooling systems, offering significant reductions in CO2 emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. In response to climate change, the European Union set a new climate target in 2021 as part of the European Green Deal, aiming to reduce net emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The REPowerEU plan, developed in the context of the Russian war on Ukraine, includes a key target: to double the use of heat pumps over the next five years, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
This translates into a target of installing at least 10 million additional (hydronic) heat pumps by 2027, with a broader target of over 30 million heat pumps by 2030. The majority of these will be hydronic, including hybrid systems.
The European Commission’s Heat Pump Action Plan addresses the need for coordinated EU-wide efforts to meet the challenges of decarbonising energy systems. National actions alone are not sufficient to achieve these goals, highlighting the importance of a unified EU strategy.
For the next three years, EnergyVille/VITO has established a partnership with the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) and Fraunhofer to create a self-sustaining Heat Pump Accelerator Platform. The main objectives of the platform are to:
- Coordinate the deployment of heat pumps in lign with more ambitious EU policies
- Continuously monitor and evaluate the progress of the sector.
- Define R&I&D priorities in the 27 EU Member States.
This Support Action for Heat Pumps will focus on streamlining the deployment process through:
- Regulatory support, ensuring that efficient heating solutions policies are in place to facilitate uptake.
- Financing and skills development, addressing financing needs and workforce expertise.
- Multi-level coordination, working across EU, national, regional and local levels to promote faster deployment.
The platform will accelerate the uptake of sustainable heating solutions, including individual heat pumps and district heating networks powered by large heat pumps. Particular attention will be paid to ensuring that these technologies are accessible to all households, especially those at risk of energy poverty. This initiative will stimulate the EU heat pump market, creating high quality jobs in the production and installation sector while contributing to economic growth.
EnergyVille/VITO’s contribution
EnergyVille/VITO will coordinate the Support Action for Heat Pumps to ensure the highest quality standards for all project deliverables. With extensive experience in supporting European Commission initiatives, EnergyVille/VITO will play a key role in organising the Heat Pump Accelerator Platform, providing secretarial support and guiding the initiative.
Specific contributions of EnergyVille/VITO include:
- Task 1: Supporting the drafting of the Terms of Reference and the evaluation of the final list of participants for the Heat Pump Accelerator Platform. EnergyVille/VITO will also support the drafting of position papers and the organisation of platform meetings, focusing on the use of heat pump in commercial buildings and district heating/cooling networks.
- Task 2: Collecting and structuring policies and measures related to heat pump deployment across the EU and presenting this information in a user-friendly format.
- Task 3: Leading the mapping of R&I&D projects in five key heat pump areas. EnergyVille/VITO will focus on commercial buildings and district heating/cooling networks, while supporting Fraunhofer in the assessment of individual and multi-family buildings as well as industrial heat pumps.
- Task 4: Assessing technology gaps and regulatory trends in R&I&D projects to define needs in the five heat pump areas. EnergyVille/VITO will contribute to the development of an R&I&D roadmap to support EU initiatives such as the Strategic Energy Plan Implementation Working Groups on “Energy Efficiency in Buildings” and “Sustainable and Efficient Use of Energy in Industry”.
- Task 5: Developing a funding and self-sustainability plan to ensure the long-term impact of the platform, even after the end of the project.
Partners
This project is carried out in collaboration with the following key partners:
Contact information
For more information about the Support Action for Heat Pumps, please contact our project manager Bright Adiyia, he will be happy to help you further.
