EU Commissioner’s focus on waste heat is positive signal

The European Heat Pump Association was pleased to hear EU Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen announce an increased focus on industrial electrification and use of waste heat recovery, as part of a wider focus on energy efficiency in his speech at the IEA Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Brussels today. 

Paul Kenny, Director General of the European Heat Pump Association said:

“The Commissioner understands the huge potential of energy efficiency, particularly large heat pumps and waste heat recovery, for lower bills and emissions, and for Europe’s energy security. The technology is already delivering in manufacturing processes from paper to pasta, and this can and must increase. We are confident that the European Commission will follow through and put industrial heat pumps front and centre of its upcoming plans and policies.”

Heat pump technology available today could already supply 37% of industry’s process heat. If this were so,  Europe’s industrial sector would save up to 146 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 a year – 24% of its emissions at today’s levels*, and more than the annual emissions of the Netherlands. See EHPA’s infographic leaflet.

Learn more about the European Commission’s new energy efficiency roadmap.

The European Commission is due to publish its Electrification Strategy and the Heating and Cooling Strategy early next year, both of which are opportunities to support industrial heat pumps and waste heat recovery further.