Turning industrial decarbonisation into reality
Industrial heat pumps are moving from promise to practice. Across Europe, they are proving that clean, efficient and reliable heat can already be delivered for a growing range of industrial processes. By recovering waste heat, integrating renewable electricity and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, industrial heat pumps offer a practical pathway to decarbonise industry while strengthening competitiveness.
EHPA is proud to support and promote industrial projects that demonstrate the real value of this technology on the ground. These initiatives show that industrial heat pumps are not only an innovation story, but also a concrete business and policy opportunity for Europe.
EHPA projects: from innovation to implementation
EHPA is involved in projects that help accelerate the deployment of industrial heat pumps across sectors and applications. Our work focuses on real industrial use cases, technology advancement, market confidence and partnership across the value chain.
These projects support the integration of heat pumps into industrial processes, improve waste heat recovery, and help deliver efficient low-carbon heat at scale. They also contribute to advancing higher-temperature solutions, smarter system integration, and stronger links between heat pumps, thermal storage and renewable electricity.
By sharing practical results, lessons learned and success stories from industrial installations, EHPA helps build confidence among industrial users, investors and policymakers. The message is clear: industrial heat pumps are already delivering results, and their role will only grow as Europe advances on decarbonisation, energy security and clean industrial growth.
Why industrial heat pumps matter now
Europe’s industry needs solutions that cut emissions without compromising productivity. Industrial heat pumps can help industries reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, recover and reuse waste heat, lower exposure to fossil fuel price volatility, and support electrification and renewable integration.
For many applications, the technology is ready. The challenge is no longer whether industrial heat pumps work, but how quickly they can be deployed at scale.
Policy must match ambition
To unlock the full potential of industrial heat pumps, Europe needs policies that reflect their strategic importance.
Industrial heat pumps must be recognised as a key clean technology in European and national strategies for industrial decarbonisation, competitiveness and energy resilience. The business case for electrification must also improve: efficient electric technologies should not be disadvantaged by energy taxation and pricing structures that continue to favour fossil fuels.
Targeted public funding and industrial decarbonisation instruments are essential to support first movers and bring projects from concept to commercial deployment. At the same time, grid development, flexibility, thermal storage and industrial cluster planning must be aligned with the electrification of heat.
Finally, Europe must invest in skills, standards and market readiness to ensure quality deployment and stronger confidence among industrial end-users.
The opportunity ahead
Industrial heat pumps can become a cornerstone of Europe’s clean industrial future. The projects are underway. The technology is advancing. The need is urgent.
Now is the time to move faster, with strong industrial leadership, visible success stories and policies that enable deployment at scale.
EHPA is committed to helping drive this transition and to making industrial heat pumps a central part of Europe’s energy and industrial strategy.
