More than 72 million EU households still rely on gas boilers, while a further 19 million use oil heating.
The questions addressed in EHPA’s policy sessions at the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) are the ones dominating conversations in Brussels right now.
How do we make clean heating affordable for consumers, and how do we ensure Europe remains competitive while strengthening its cleantech manufacturing base?
Across two sessions on 10 and 11 June, policymakers, industry and energy experts explored what it takes to deliver both.
On 10 June, the focus was on reducing heat pump costs and improving the consumer journey. The discussion brought together Jonathan Volt (European Commission Joint Research Centre), Jan van Rooijen (Warmtepompvergelijker.nl), Janina Ketterer (Octopus Energy), Stephan Kolb (Carrier HVAC), Niels Ladefoged (DG Energy) and Maarten De Groote (VITO). The session was moderated by EHPA’s Policy Director, Jozefien Vanbecelaere.
The scale of the challenge is significant. Speakers discussed the barriers to accelerating the technology uptake, both from the policy and industry perspectives. The panel highlighted the importance of the electricity-to-gas price ratio as a key measure to lower costs and improve the business case for heat pumps.
Panellists pointed to several ways to make heat pumps more attractive and affordable, including more competitive electricity prices, smart tariffs, greater system flexibility and stable, predictable support schemes. The successful implementation of ETS2 was also identified as an important driver of the transition.
But affordability is not only about energy prices. Consumers often face a complicated purchasing process, from understanding the available options to finding trusted installers and comparing offers. Speakers stressed that greater price transparency, simpler digital tools and a smoother customer journey will be just as important as reducing upfront and running costs.
The following day, attention turned to Europe’s industrial future and the challenge of scaling cleantech manufacturing while keeping clean technologies affordable and competitive.
The session, moderated by Ben Makuch from POLITICO Europe, featured Barbara Priesching (Vaillant Group), Sarah Junior (Oxford PV), Louise de La Fortelle (ZF Group) and Jacek Truszczynski (DG Grow).
The conversation highlighted both Europe’s strengths and its vulnerabilities. The wind sector supports around 440,000 jobs and provides roughly 20% of EU electricity, while the heat pump industry has already invested €7 billion in manufacturing capacity. Yet Europe remains heavily dependent on imports for key solar components and faces increasing global competition.
Speakers emphasised that energy is no longer simply a commodity but a strategic asset. Building resilient supply chains, securing domestic manufacturing capacity and creating the conditions for long-term investment are therefore becoming central elements of Europe’s energy transition.
The Industrial Accelerator Act was highlighted as a key opportunity to build on the Net-Zero Industry Act by supporting European manufacturing, encouraging local value creation and strengthening strategic clean technology sectors.
At the same time, industry representatives stressed that competitiveness depends on predictability. Faster permitting, lower energy costs, clear demand signals and effective implementation of existing legislation will be essential if Europe is to attract investment and scale production.
Across both sessions, one message emerged clearly: affordability and competitiveness are not competing objectives. Europe will need both if it is to accelerate the energy transition, strengthen its industrial base and deploy clean technologies at the scale required.
Affordability and innovative schemes to promote the adoption of heat pumps, such as social leasing, were also at the centre of the two sessions featuring EHPA Policy Director Jozefien Vanbecelaere later on 11 June.
Beyond the policy debates, visitors also had the opportunity to meet the EHPA team at the Energy Fair, where EHPA shared a stand with the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC). Participants could learn more about our EU-funded projects and test their knowledge through an interactive quiz ahead of Heat Pump Day on 21 October 2026.
Rewatch more sessions and see more photos on the EUSEW website.
