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Industrial heat pumps

Industrial heat pumps

Unlock the full potential of industrial heat pumps

Supporting industrial heat pumps is essential for cutting emissions in energy-intensive industries, helping achieve decarbonisation targets. They also reduce reliance on fossil fuels, strengthening Europe’s energy security and independence.

Industrial heat pumps use renewable energy from air, water, sewage and ground, exhaust air from buildings (hospitals, hotels, offices) or waste heat from processes and infrastructure.

They reach temperatures of up to 180-200°C, replacing oil and gas! They are already being used in industries like paper and pulp, wood, dairy, fruits, vegetables, paint, food, textiles.

Boosting them further is essential: more than 60% of industry’s energy use goes on heat, but industrial heat pumps could provide around 39% of process heat needs if fully rolled out! 

The European Heat Pump Association supports the widespread roll-out of industrial heat pumps. 


What's the EU doing?

CLEAN INDUSTRIAL DEAL

The European Commission published its Clean Industrial Deal on 26 February 2025. This takes forward the goals of the EU Green Deal, focusing on making European clean tech as competitive as possible on the path to climate neutrality in 2050. 

In early 2026, the EU Commission is due to release an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act to drive European industries toward climate neutrality.

For EHPA, industrial heat pumps must be front and centre of relevant EU actions. 

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Read our heat pump stories, which feature many such case studies.

Read our latest report on the subsidies available for industrial heat pumps in each European country.

Discover our partnership with the paper and pulp industry body Cepi, and the report we produced together.  Read about how we showed the potential of industrial heat pumps at the Anuga Foodtec conference in 2024.

Have questions on a specific file or position? Click here to find the right policy colleague to assist you. For general inquiries, email policy@ehpa.org.  

EU Projects

EHPA’s work on industrial heat pumps is further supported by the EU-funded projects:

Policy news

New EU State Aid Framework must back heat pumps to deliver on clean industry goals 

The EU’s just updated its rules on which sectors governments can give money to deliver on the Clean Industrial Deal. ...

25 Jun 2025
From policy to prices - wide-ranging EHPA sessions at 2025 EU Sustainable Energy Week 

“Spain’s most taxed product after tobacco and alcohol? Electricity.” With these startling words, Marta Navarrete Moreno of Spanish utility Iberdrola...

13 Jun 2025
EU Commissioner's focus on waste heat is positive signal

Large heat pumps and waste heat recovery can unlock lower bills and emissions, and strengthen Europe's energy security.

12 Jun 2025

Position papers
and joint statements:

EHPA position on social leasing for heat pumps

‘Social leasing’ means low-income households can rent clean technologies by paying an affordable monthly fee. The European Commission is due...

01 Sep 2025
Joint letter: keep 'energy efficiency first' at heart of EU Climate Law

Industry leaders and associations from the energy efficiency sector, including buildings, construction, and heating and cooling, are committed to securing...

28 Aug 2025
EHPA's feedback on the revision of the State aid rules on Services of General Economic Interest

EHPA welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the revision of the State aid rules on Services of General Economic...

30 Jul 2025
EHPA & EPEE's feedback on impact assessment on energy labelling of low temperature heat emitters

EHPA & EPEE welcome the European Commission’s initiative to explore the potential of low-temperature (LT) heat emitters. This product group...

28 Jul 2025