Competitiveness and skills

Strengthen industrial leadership and skills

Up to 70% of the heat pumps installed in Europe are made in Europe.

Consolidating the sector’s competitiveness is vital for Europe to accelerate the clean energy transition and achieve its climate goals. It also drives economic growth, job creation, and strengthens Europe’s position in the global clean energy market.

Europe’s heat pump sector is a world leader. It provides more than 400, 000 direct and indirect jobs already today, with the potential for many more.

There are 300 heat pump and heat pump component manufacturing sites in Europe alone – check the map!

Increasing manufacturing and installation capacity is a prerequisite for cutting imported fossil fuels and decarbonise industry.

The heat pump sector is ramping up production in order to meet and surpass the EU’s targets, but it needs the right support. At the same time demand should be boosted to ensure the long term competitiveness of the heat pump sector in Europe, for example through stable long-term policies.

What's the EU doing?

CLEAN INDUSTRIAL DEAL

European Commissioners have been tasked by Ursula von der Leyen to deliver a Clean Industrial Deal within the first 100 days of the new European Commission.   The plan was launched on 26 February 2025, together with the Affordable Energy Action Plan.

This initiative will work in tandem with the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act – due in 2026 – to drive European industries toward climate neutrality. EHPA actively supports this goal: the heat pump sector must be front and centre as a key net zero European industry.

THE EU NET ZERO INDUSTRY ACT

In March 2023 the European Commission proposed the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), to boost and expand Europe’s manufacturing capabilities for net zero technologies.

The NZIA aims to scale up the manufacturing of technologies which are key to achieving climate neutrality – such as heat pump technology and its key components. The objective is to approach or reach at least 40% of the annual deployment needs for strategic net-zero technologies manufactured in the EU by 2030.

EHPA believes this will help achieve the EU’s climate and energy goals.

THE SINGLE MARKET STRATEGY

A strong and unified European single market is essential for the growth and competitiveness of the heat pump industry. Heat pumps are already widely regulated at the EU and national levels. However, growing differences between countries risk slowing down innovation, increasing costs, and making it harder for companies to operate across borders.

EHPA is working to ensure that the rules applying to heat pumps, from safety standards to digital requirements, from grid connection to product testing, are clear, consistent, and supportive of industry growth. We call for better coordination across Europe, so that heat pump companies can invest, innovate and scale up faster, and deliver affordable, clean heating and cooling to millions of Europeans.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SKILLS PARTNERSHIP

Meeting Europe’s heat pump roll-out targets requires significantly more skilled workers across the value chain, from manufacturing to installation and maintenance. However, companies face challenges recruiting electricians, technicians, and engineers due to limited familiarity with heat pump technology, high certification costs, and low customer awareness.

With over 300 heat pump and component manufacturing sites in Europe, providing 433,000 direct and indirect jobs, doubling heat pump deployment by 2030 will require at least 500,000 trained professionals, particularly in safe refrigerant handling.

EHPA, through the Renewable Energy Skills Partnership, promotes sector-wide cooperation to build a skilled workforce, ensuring competitiveness and achieving EU energy and climate goals.

Have questions on a specific file or position? Click here to find the right policy colleague to assist you. For general inquiries, email policy@ehpa.org.