The Heat Pump Technology Panel (HP TP) of the RHC-Platform was launched in April 2015 and it is managed by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)
Heat pumps decarbonize our economies by using sustainable energy from air, water and ground. Heat pumps increase energy efficiency in the residential, commercial and industrial sector. The benefits of heat pumps go beyond saving energy, using renewable energy and reducing CO2 emissions. They are essential components of future nearly zero energy buildings/districts as they are amongst the most efficient devices for heating, cooling and hot water use.
Heating and cooling needs and priorities in Europe are changing over time – some of these changes are already taking place today, also in the heat pump sector:
- Solutions in industrial process
- Thermal storage
- Integration in smart grids (through demand reponse)
- Increasing the potential of district heating, cogeneration and other renewable technologies.
- Use of waste heat (other clean and innovative processes)
The Panel has worked on the development of a strategy that will enable heat pumps to make a major contribution to the “2050 Vision for 100% renewable heating and cooling in Europe”, which outlines how the European heating and cooling sector can be fully decarbonized by 2050, the research needed to achieve this vision in the “Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Climate-Neutral Heating and Cooling in Europe “, and will continue to do so as part of the upcoming strategic document on the technology deployments .
The main target of this strategy will be to create the conditions to further boost the research, development and technological innovation of all existing and new heat pump applications. With the next steps being prepared as part of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), of the Heat Pump Technology Panel as well as several events where HP TP representatives will be present.
The HP TP meets on average every three months, with these meetings being coupled with the Research and Innovation Committee of the EHPA.
