Are you working on a project that pushes the boundaries of clean, efficient heating and cooling? If so, now is the time to share it with the world and apply for the 2025 edition of the Heat Pump Awards until 15 August.
Organised by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), the awards celebrate the most impactful and innovative heat pump projects across the continent and beyond. From municipalities and housing associations to industry pioneers and cutting-edge technology providers, the Awards shine a spotlight on solutions that help accelerate the energy transition.
The application process has been streamlined with a step-by-step guide and a new FAQ section, making it easier for first-time applicants to participate.
Projects can be submitted in one of four categories: Heat Pump City of the Year (for city-supported projects), DecarBuilding (for residential and commercial sector projects), DecarbIndustry (for industrial projects), Lighthouse Heat Pump (for unique, innovative heat pump solutions that don’t fit other categories) and People’s Choice (for the most popular project, chosen by the public).
Winners receive well-deserved visibility and join a growing community of climate-forward innovators, all helping to show what is possible when heat pumps are placed at the centre of decarbonisation strategies.
To inspire future applicants, EHPA recently hosted a webinar highlighting the five award-winning projects of the 2024 edition, sponsored by Italian manufacturer Frascold. These examples combine technical excellence with real-world impact and replicability.
In Turku, Finland, the Heat Pump City of the Year Award went to a forward-thinking urban energy project financed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. Turku’s Student Village became a Positive Energy District by harnessing excess heat from its district cooling system and repurposing it for district heating via a high-performance heat pump. The system doesn’t just serve residents with zero-emission heating. It actively reduces energy costs and makes full use of dynamic pricing, producing 120% of the area’s energy needs.
On the residential front, the DecarBuilding Award went to the HAPPENING project in Pasaia, Spain, which demonstrated how even older multi-family buildings can be retrofitted with high-efficiency heat pumps. Their approach uses a cascade system – central air-to-water units paired with individual water-to-water pumps in each dwelling – alongside smart energy management and PV storage. The result? A dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (up to 75%) and energy consumption, without sacrificing user comfort or requiring major renovations inside flats.
The winner of the Lighthouse Heat Pump Award was a UK-based hospital retrofit by Arriba Technologies, which took the concept of energy efficiency to a new level. Their plant delivers heating, cooling, and hot water entirely via heat pumps integrated with rooftop solar. The system is robust enough to run an entire surgical wing without backup boilers, proving that even mission-critical infrastructure can be both green and resilient. The project also exemplifies how modular, co-engineered systems can outperform traditional bespoke designs.
In Norway, Aneo Industry captured the DecarbIndustry Award with its groundbreaking FRIGG steam-producing heat pump, which reuses moist air waste heat from feed production to generate live steam. This is the world’s first full-scale installation of its kind and showcases how natural refrigerants, smart system integration, and industrial process alignment can drastically cut emissions and energy use, while boosting operational efficiency.
Finally, the People’s Choice Award, voted online by the public, went to Organon in the Netherlands. Their pharmaceutical production facility in Oss is undergoing a deep transformation towards climate neutrality, thanks to a combination of Trane heat pumps, heat recovery systems, and building upgrades. By reusing heat from compressed air and introducing low-carbon heating in both factories and offices, the company is avoiding 243,000 cubic metres of gas annually. It’s a prime example of how corporate climate goals can be met with clear technical planning and stakeholder engagement.
Each of these projects underscores a shared truth: heat pumps are no longer just a technical solution; they’re a catalyst for climate action, energy security, and cost efficiency. As the EU and member states push for faster decarbonisation of buildings and industry, these award-winning initiatives offer replicable models and valuable inspiration.
So, whether you’re a city planner, housing provider, system integrator, or entrepreneur, don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your work in the 2025 edition of the Heat Pump Awards. Submit your application, share your results, and help set the standard for the next generation of sustainable energy systems.
The Heat Pump Awards are sponsored by Frascold SpA.
Learn more about the winning projects of the 2024 Heat Pump Awards.
