EU industry can decarbonise by increasing its use of industrial heat pumps, figures shared by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) show.
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.
Paul Kenny, EHPA Director General said:
“Europe needs competitive and sustainable industry – and large scale heat pumps are key. The technology is already delivering reliable heat, cost savings and affordable energy in manufacturing processes from paper to pasta, and this can and must increase. We urge the European Commission to put industrial heat pumps front and centre of its upcoming plans and policies.”
The European Commission’s upcoming ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ will focus on boosting clean tech, and the ‘Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act’ will look at how to speed up clean tech for energy intensive sectors.
Industrial heat pumps, which can reach temperatures of up to 200°C, should be at the centre of both of these, as well as the European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan and the Heating and Cooling strategy.
The potential of industrial heat pumps will be discussed at two events organised by EHPA, a round table taking place today at our offices and a breakfast debate tomorrow in the EU Parliament.
* Based on the assumption that European industry emits around 604 Mt CO2 per year.
