"The Power of Heat Pumps for a Zero Emissions Future"

The importance of energy efficiency is emerging as a fundamental pillar in strategies aimed at decarbonizing the industrial sector, a theme explored in detail during the recent webinar organized by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) on March 14, titled “Supporting the Success of Industrial Heat Pumps – A Call to Action!”.

This event represented a significant moment of discussion, especially in a period when the European Heat Pump Action Plan has been postponed following the European elections, highlighting the urgency to focus on these technologies as a key solution for reducing the environmental impact of production processes.

Innovative Projects and Expert Insights: Europe Accelerates Towards Industrial Decarbonization with Heat Pumps

The online seminar provided a framework for a series of EU-funded projects, such as SPIRIT, PUSH2HEAT, and SUSHEAT, all aimed at promoting the use of high-temperature heat pumps in the industrial context. These initiatives demonstrate Europe's commitment to the net-zero goal, emphasizing the crucial role of support in this journey.

During the event, Alessia Del Vasto, Senior Policy Officer at EHPA, highlighted the effectiveness of heat pumps in utilizing renewable energy sources and recovering residual heat, particularly in sectors that have historically relied on fossil fuels.

She emphasized the need to reduce initial costs and electricity prices to facilitate the widespread adoption of this technology.

Cordin Arpagaus, Senior Researcher at OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences – pointed out the growth of the high-temperature industrial heat pump market globally, driven by the decarbonization and electrification of industrial sectors.

He highlighted the wide range of applications and the market's attractiveness, especially with a more favorable electricity/gas cost ratio, and the importance of a solid energy analysis of processes as the first step.

Efficiency and Innovation: The Success of Heat Pumps

A concrete example of application comes from Pelagia, a fish processing company that has directly experienced the benefits of adopting these technologies.

Eirik Anfindsen Solberg, Technical Director at Pelagia, highlighted how heat pumps have enabled the company to reduce energy input, lower CO2 emissions, and improve the factory's profitability, demonstrating how energy efficiency is essential to meet the various energy needs of their operations.

In conclusion, the webinar conducted by EHPA offered not only an overview of the challenges but also concrete solutions and success stories in integrating industrial heat pumps into production processes, marking a significant step in the path towards industrial decarbonization.