#EPBD: EC paves the way for heat pumps to become Europe’s default heating system
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is ambitious on the decarbonisation of heating and cooling systems in the EU’s buildings and drastically improves the case for heat pumps. The Commission’s clear statement on phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040 is the shift needed to swiftly implement decarbonisation of heating. By ending financial incentives for fossil fuel boilers as of 2027, the EC rightfully implements the ‘polluter pays principle’ and enables citizens to switch to heat pumps.
The introduction of minimum energy performance standards accompanied by clear deadlines targets the worst performing buildings, making them heat pump ready. EPCs containing information on the heating system and one stop shops will guide consumers through their heating renovation process.
EHPA believes that the Commission should have been more ambitious on specific targets for buildings in 2030 and 2050. It’s a good first step that all new buildings must be zero emission by 2030. And of course, by 2050 all buildings must be zero emission, but with a heat pump, an energy positive building can be achieved.
According to the Commission’s own calculations, 40% of residential and 65% of commercial buildings in the EU need to be heated with electricity by 2030.1 For this to happen, Europe needs to quadruple the heat pump stock over the next decade. Currently, 13.3 million heat pumps are heating homes, offices, and entire districts in the EU; by 2030 this figure should be at least 50 million, and this is not including industrial energy demand.
The heat pump industry – represented by EHPA - is ready to deliver and can scale up. EHPA supports the requirement for Member States to ensure that a sufficient workforce is ready to carry out the expansion of heat pumps in the building sector.
«Heat pumps in renovations will lead to enormous reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. The technology is readily available. Now the EPBD adds ambitious deadlines and guides consumers to unlock this potential,” says Thomas Nowak, Secretary General of EHPA. Together with the introduction of carbon pricing, these measures need full support from the EU Member states for the required massive deployment in Europe, if we want to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”
Contact details: Ms Eirini Litina, +32 493525781, eirini.litina@ehpa.org
EHPA promotes awareness and deployment of heat pump technology in Europe. All activities aim at creating a market environment that facilitates a faster deployment of heat pump technology to unleash its benefits on a European level: efficient heating and cooling using renewable energy. EHPA also coordinates the Heat Pump Keymark – a European certification scheme for all heat pumps, combination heat pumps and hot water heater.
For more information, please visit: www.ehpa.org
