On the 9th April 2019, the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), in collaboration with SME Europe and DryFiciency, organised a breakfast debate on tackling the subject of “Industrial and Commercial Heat Pumps: the unpolished gem in Europe’s energy transition necklace”. The event was hosted by MEP Dr. Paul Rübig of the EPP Group.
Policymakers, MEP Dr. Paul Rübig (AT/EPP) and MEP Seán Kelly (IE/EPP), discussed with the representatives of industry, civil society and the research sector about the next policy actions needed to seize the opportunities that high capacity and high-temperature heat pumps can provide to production processes in many applications. The following technology can foster the transition of energy-intensive industries and businesses are playing a leading role to enable the large deployment of heat pumps on an industrial and commercial level.
Dr. Paul Rübig, Member of the European People Party’s opened the breakfast debate by recalling the fact that heating and cooling of buildings is on top of the list of the most significant contributors for CO2 emissions. Therefore, Policymakers should focus on improving the energy efficiency of households and buildings. He then continued by stating that “the best energy is the one that is not consumed. Therefore, technologies should be promoted that further increase the energy efficiency of industry and households.”
Eric Delforge, Chair of the EHPA’s Industrial and Commercial Heat Pump working group, inspired the participants by presenting the potential of large heat pump applications in a sustainable and smart energy system. He then led the audience through the demonstration that waste-less heating and cooling in the production process is possible. The installation of such closed and renewable system is possible thanks to the large heat pumps appliances. Now, “we need bold policymakers” to push energy efficiency in the energy-intensive industries, in the same way that the EU pushed for energy efficiency of fridges and lightbulbs back in time.
Individual businesses are setting the example for bigger industries by integrating large heat pumps appliances in their production processes and their buildings.
Naturally, participants agreed on the need for a proper recognition of heat pump technology to deploy it where possible in the industrial and commercial sector, thus using the full potential of waste heat to the maximum extent and include renewable technologies into industrial heating and cooling processes. The economic advantage of using heat pumps in businesses is a reality as in the case of Colruyt and in the Dairy industry.
In this view, to better disseminate the potentialities of the industrial and commercial heat pumps, EHPA is preparing a second edition of the ‘’Large scale heat pump in Europe’’ (download the previous version), a brochure presenting examples of realized and successful projects involving large heat pumps. The publication will be presented the 15-16 May 2019, during the Heat Pump Forum in Brussels.
Further details and presentations can be found here
 
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The Heat Pump Association (HPA) says the government’€™s announcement in the Spring Statement that gas boilers will be banned in new homes from 2025 is a step in the right direction. It also supports the comments made by the Committee on Climate Change in their recent report, “UK Housing: Fit for the Future?”€™, which called on the government to get serious about tackling emissions from homes.
The HPA believes that it is vital that consumers are made aware of the potential of heat pumps for low carbon heating. Heat pumps supply more energy than they consume by extracting heat from their surroundings. Currently, heat pump systems can supply as much as 3kW of heat output for just 1kW of energy input.
Graham Wright, HPA Chairman, said: “Although heat pumps can save considerable carbon emissions this has not been recognised yet in building regulation and the UK needs a mechanism to enable us to take advantage of the 10 years of investment in renewable power generation, which has seen a significant reduction in the amount of CO2 emitted per kWh generated.”€
Wright continued: “€œFurther investment in training is also required to enable the current cohort of boiler installers to be able to install renewable technologies, a task that the industry understands and will be working with all stakeholders to ensure we achieve.”€
www.heatpumps.org.uk
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The Heat Pump Association (HPA) was recently invited to give evidence during a parliamentary session held by the Science and Technologies Committee as part of its inquiry into ‘Technologies for meeting Clean Growth emissions reduction targets’.
Graham Hazell attended the session on behalf of the HPA at the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 26th February 2019, alongside David Weatherall, Head of Policy at the Energy Saving Trust, Jenny Holland, Senior Public Affairs and Policy Specialist for the UK Green Building Council, and Sam French of the Decarbonised Gas Alliance.
During the session, led by Committee Chair Norman Lamb MP, the Committee explored the options for decarbonising the UK’s road transport and domestic heat sectors, including energy efficiency measures. The Committee considered potential long term scenarios that could meet the UK’s emissions reductions targets as well as the actions the Government should be taking now to enable the UK to determine and pursue the optimum routes to these future scenarios.
Mr Hazell stressed the importance of the Electrical Grid Carbon Factor and its impact on the uptake of heat pumps. This point, which raised considerable interest amongst the Committee members, is a relatively easy quick win.
Graham Wright, Chairman of the HPA, commented: “While many proposed low carbon heating technologies are in the early development stage, heat pumps are ready and available now and do not need the huge investment being asked for from other technologies, such as hydrogen. Bio heating oil is currently a concept rather than a reality. We look forward to seeing the findings of the Committee’s report.”
The full parliamentary session can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/2Tfi5xR
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The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has welcomed a report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) that calls for a ban on gas boilers in homes by 2025.
The report, ‘UK Housing: Fit for the future?’, calls on the government to get serious about tackling emissions from homes, warning that the UK’s legally-binding climate change targets will not be met without the near-complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions from UK buildings.
The Heat Pump Association believes that it is vital that key people in industry are aware of the potential of heat pumps for low carbon heating. Heat pumps supply more energy than they consume, by extracting heat from their surroundings. Currently heat pump systems can supply as much as 3kW of heat output for just 1kW of energy input. In many systems, heat is transferred from outside air or from warm exhaust air. In other types of system the heat can be drawn from the ground, or water sources such as rivers or waste water.
Graham Wright, Chairman of the HPA, commented, “Although a major short term shift to solely heat pumps would be impractical, extension of the gas grid in rural areas severely risks creating a much bigger negative legacy for the future. What cannot be denied is the ability of heat pump systems of all genres to significantly reduce carbon emissions, even at quite modest system efficiencies, compared to combustion based heating.”
Graham Hazell, consultant to the HPA, will be giving evidence to the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee at Westminster on Tuesday 26th February 2019 on this subject. The discussion forms part of the Committee’s inquiry into technologies for meeting clean growth emissions reductions targets, and will be available to view live on Parliament TV.
The HPA is the UK’s leading authority on the use and benefits of heat pump technology, influencing legislation and other matters that affect the interests of its industry. ')}

The HPA has reviewed and commented upon a recent document from BEIS entitled “Clean Growth – Transfoming Heat”.
This report focuses on ways the UK can de-carbonise heat, and move to low carbon heating sources. Clearly, heat pumps have a huge role to play in such a strategy and the HPA were very glad to have the opportunity to comment.
Some of the key points the HPA raised in its response were:
The Electricity Grid Carbon Factor currently in Building Regulations does not reflect the recent dramatic drop in carbon emissions from electricity generation, and hence means that the performance of heat pumps is unfairly penalised.
The report quotes an oft repeated myth that heat pumps only work with well insulated buildings; this is clearly wrong. Any heating system will operate more efficiently in a well insulated building.
Heat pumps are a well understood technology that is available TODAY.
There needs to be some lateral thinking as regards electricity tariffs and subsidies to facilitate the uptake of heat pumps.
We need to engage with consumers to highlight the benefits, and ultimate energy and money savings, of using this technology.
Several of these topics have been the subject of recent articles by the HPA in the industry press.
The full response will be available on the HPA website in the near future. ')}

The HPA are pleased to be able to confirm that the RHI affirmative regulations passed the final stage in Parliament on 17th May.
Ofgem will be updating their website to confirm the details of the changes being enacted on 22nd May.
Here is a short summary of the regulations included in the package to become live on 22nd May:
Domestic RHI:
• Introduction of Assignment of Rights (registration to be a Registered Investor commences 27th June with the first registrations anticipated in the Autumn)
• Introduction of mandatory electricity metering for heat pumps on DRHI and domestic properties on shared ground loop systems in the NDRHI
Non-domestic RHI:
• Introduction of tariff guarantees – for HP’s GSHP >100kW only- amount of heat covered limited to 250GWh per year
• Removal of wood fuel drying, waste drying or processing, and domestic swimming pools on Non-domestic premises as eligible uses of heat
• Introduction of shared ground loop regulations for ground source heat pumps – payments for heat pumps linked to domestic properties will be made on basis of deemed heat rather than metering
• Changes to efficiency thresholds for solid biomass Combined Heat and Power plant (implementation of 20% power efficiency threshold, up from 10%)
• Uplift to biogas/biomethane tariffs
• New Biogas/biomethane feedstock requirements closely linked to the high biomethane and biogas tariffs
• Removal of digestate drying as an eligible heat use
Changes affecting both schemes:
• Revision of degression thresholds out to 2020/21
• Amend degression mechanism methodology
• Operational administrative changes to give Ofgem (scheme administrators) further powers:
o Clarification that any grant funding received post-accreditation is to be deducted from future payments;
o Clarification of powers to withhold payments for a Metering Monitoring Service Package (MMSP) in cases of non-compliance;
o Clarifying Ofgem powers to reject applications where it is not fully satisfied that the plant will operate in line with ongoing obligations;
o Amending enforcement provisions to make it clearer where Ofgem may impose sanctions, including putting a greater onus on participants to evidence that they are in compliance;
o Introducing new powers where Ofgem has been refused access to a site;
o Enabling Ofgem to ban applicants from the scheme where they have misled Ofgem;
o Reducing the period of dormancy (when applications are with applicant pending further information or clarification) from a minimum of 12 weeks to a minimum of 4 weeks;
o Clarifying in regulations that Ofgem may conduct an unannounced audit.
Once the changes are live, updated Guidance documents will also be published there to reflect the amended regulations. ')}

The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has welcomed Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on science and modern industrial strategy as a major step in reducing carbon emissions and the UK’s dependence on imported fuel.
 
In a bold, landmark speech on Monday 21^st May, Mrs May committed the UK to reducing building energy use by half. Mrs May said: “By making our buildings more energy efficient and embracing smart technologies, we can slash household energy bills, reduce demand for energy, and meet our targets for carbon reduction.
 
“By halving the energy use of new buildings – both commercial and residential – we could reduce the energy bills for their occupants by as much as 50 per cent.
 
“And we will aim to halve the costs of reaching the same standard in existing buildings too. Meeting this challenge will drive innovation and higher standards in the construction sector, helping it to meet our ambitious homebuilding targets and providing more jobs and opportunity to millions of workers across the country.”
 
A combination of fabric efficiency and renewable heat technologies are proposed and it is very clear heat pumps will play a vital role in this mission. Last year the HPA demonstrated its commitment to carbon-free heating and cooling by signing the DecarbHeat Declaration of Support. DecarbHeat is a European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) initiative that aims to turn the vision of a 100% carbon-free European heating and cooling sector by 2050 into reality.
 
“The renewable heating industry has lobbied government for a considerable time to make bold and definitive steps toward reduction in energy usage,” said Mike Nankivell, President of the HPA. “This action clearly demonstrates that the government has listened and determines this is the best way forward to reduce energy consumption, emissions and fuel bills.”
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The Energy Now Expo will be returning to Telford, Shropshire, on 7 and 8 February 2018 for its ninth year, and farmers and landowners across the UK are being urged to save the date.
The annual event provides a chance to explore the opportunities available in all areas of on-farm renewables including anaerobic digestion and biogas, biomass, energy crops, heat pumps, hydropower, solar and wind, explains event director, David Jacobmeyer.
“The Energy Now Expo showcases all of the technologies available to farmers looking to diversify and future-proof their businesses. It also provides best practices in energy efficiency, guidance on the ways to maximise the returns of existing schemes and ways to store the energy being produced.
“Our comprehensive seminar programme features some of the leading experts in the industry. This, combined with a showcase of technology suppliers, funding providers and advisory bodies, means that the expo is a one-stop shop for pioneering agri-businesses,” he explains.
The event is free to attend and registration is now open online at www.energynowexpo.co.uk. The latest information on the event can also be found on Twitter @EnergyNowMag. ')}

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