More than 20 companies, governments and non-governmental organizations have presented a roadmap for the European heat pump sector to EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, which includes recommended solutions to remove obstacles to growth.
“The EU heat pump accelerator aims to overcome these obstacles and create a better framework for the accelerated deployment of heat pumps in accordance with the EU’s climate and energy security goals,” the document reads.
Obstacles include upfront and operating costs, lack of consumer information, bottlenecks in the supply chain, lack of installers, and insufficient integration of the power sector and energy systems. The document stated that while at least 60 percent of heat pump manufacturing takes place in Europe, the industry is still heavily dependent on non-European manufacturers for critical components such as compressors.
“Europe is closing the door on the fossil fuel and renewable path to zero,” said Thomas Nowak, Secretary General of the European Heat Pump Association. “Heat pumps now play an important role, as demonstrated by the versatile participation of this heat pump accelerator. We thank the European Commission for hosting the Accelerator and urge it to take its recommendations into account. Above all, the industry needs a clear signal from decision-makers about their long-term support.
Several organizations have participated in the initiative, including Agora Energiewende, Daikin Europe, Danfoss, Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), EIT InnoEnergy and the European Partnership for Energy and Environment (EPEE).
