07/26/2023
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
Heat pump installation has surpassed a quarter of installers' sales, according to a survey. For the future, they expect a significant increase.
According to a recent survey by the research institute EuPD Research, heat pumps are taking an increasingly important role in the portfolios of installers. Thus, the 351 companies surveyed - primarily sanitary heating and air conditioning installation companies - would have achieved an average of around 26 percent of total sales with heat pump installations in 2022. For 2023, the companies expect this share to increase significantly to 31 percent on average.
The results of the questioning surprise somewhat, had nevertheless the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWK) only recently of a clear decrease of the promotion applications for the installation of heat pumps spoken (we reported). Accordingly, in the first five months of 2023, only just under 41,300 applications for subsidies had been submitted. In the same period of the previous year, there were still almost 75,000 applications. However, this could be due to changed funding conditions, EuPD Research stated when asked. Moreover, these statistics referred exclusively to existing buildings, not new buildings.
In the past week, industry representatives had pleaded with the federal government for a building renovation offensive in view of declining orders for energy-efficient modernizations (we reported). At the European level, a coalition of industry associations called for an end to fossil fuel heating systems and greater support for heat pumps. The coalition consisted of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), the Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS) and the European Environment Bureau (EEB).
The associations added that they support the EU Commission's draft reform of efficiency requirements for new heating systems. This requires of heaters, which are newly installed from 2029 on, an efficiency of at least 115 per cent - an efficiency, which today's heat pumps, in addition, modern hybrid systems reach.
The companies now surveyed by EuPD for the "Heat Pump Monitor 2023" assume a significant increase in demand for heat pumps. However, they see another challenge: on average, 59 percent of the air-to-water heat pumps installed to date have not yet had a PV system integrated. In the long term, end customers could benefit from low-cost electricity and low heating costs by combining these technologies. However, there are currently "too many manufacturers with different systems that are not compatible with each other," according to one of the installers surveyed.
The environmental protection association Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) points out yet another aspect to be considered in the heat pump rollout: it is now possible to label devices with the "Blue Angel". Manufacturers are now called upon to optimize their products accordingly and to pay attention to the use of natural refrigerants, increased efficiency values and noise avoidance.
Author: Katia Meyer-Tien
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