HPT TCP is delighted to announce the forthcoming launch of HPT Annex 65, titled “Heat Pumps in a Circular Economy“, scheduled for January 2024.

• The Net Zero Roadmap estimates that the global heat pump stock in capacity will triple from 1,000 GW to 3,000 GW.
• The increased deployment of heat pumps will  also increase the material footprint and could influence supply chains of materials
• Several large markets for heat pumps have strategies to switch to a circular economy with focus on repairability, reused materials and components, lifetime extension and new business models.
• There is an increasing focus on limiting the lifecycle carbon footprint of buildings.

Source: Space heating – Analysis – IEA (Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 °C Goal in Reach)

To ensure cost-effectiveness and competitiveness in the transition to a sustainable circular economy, the heat pump industry needs to have access to a forum where knowledge is collected and shared. This is the overall objective of the international collaboration project, which will provide an overview of the status of heat pumps in relation to a circular economy, highlight the technological possibilities for improving the circularity as well as develop best practice recommendations.

In practice, an overview of the terminology for material efficiency must be created. The current state-of-the-art for circular economy for domestic heat pumps needs to be defined, and the potentials for circular economy and potential barriers to recycling and dismantling need to be assessed. Finally, best practice tools must be developed to achieve improved material efficiency in domestic heat pumps, and the results of the work will be communicated to relevant stakeholders.

The Annex will include an investigation of the following activities:

• Task 1: Definitions and delimitation – Determine definitions and set a framework for working with circular economy in heat pumps.
• Task 2: State-of-the-art – Collect information on national and international initiatives on material efficiency and circular economy.
• Task 3: Evaluation of potential – Evaluate the potential for circular economy and potential obstacles for reusing and dismantling.
• Task 4: Guideline development – Develop design and dismantling guidelines.
• Task 5: Dissemination.

Key data

• Project duration:  1 January 2024 – 31 December 2026
• Operating Agent: Mr. Jakob Thomsen, jath@dti.dk, Danish Technological Institute
• Participating countries: Denmark and Germany (so far).
• Website: https://heatpumpingtechnologies.org/annex65/

There is still time to join the project. For information on how to participate, contact the Operating Agent Mr Jakob Thomsen, jath@dti.dk