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 170,000 direct 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?
Soon: 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.
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 s a key net zero European industry.
Already agreed: 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.
This will help achieve the EU’s climate and energy goals.
Position papers and joint statements:
EHPA recommendations for trilogues on the Net Zero Industry Act
PDF
19/01/2024
Joint reaction to the EP ITRE report on the Net-Zero Industry Act: Keeping the NZIA focused on Clean tech manufacturing in the EU
PDF
14/06/2023
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. While over 3 million heat pumps were installed in 2022, employing 170,000 full-time workers, doubling 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.
Policy news
