Digitalization at the Heart of Europe’s Energy Future

Foreword:

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By Bernd Windholz, Thematic Coordinator, Efficient Buildings and HVAC Technologies, Center for Energy, AIT, Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria

The digitalization of Europe’s energy system is accelerating – amongst others, driven by the EU action plan – to unlock the full potential of flexible energy generation and consumption. Digital technologies enable system optimization, operational savings, and savings in network infrastructure [1].  In view of these possibilities, the digitalization of the energy system has become a political priority, linked to the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 programme [2].  With the initiatives towards digitalization, heat pump technology is also undergoing transformation.

According to the IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 report, a total of 1.800 million heat pumps have to be installed in buildings worldwide to provide more than half of the heating needs. It is a tenfold increase compared to the level of 2020 [3].

Yet it’s not just the number of heat pumps that is changing – it’s how they operate. As the current volume of the HPT Magazine shows, by means of digitalization, future heat pump systems can achieve higher efficiency, increase reliability, and put the user more at the focus of operation.

Results of the recently finished IEA HPT Annex 56 Digitalization and IoT for Heat Pumps highlight this shift. Forty-four examples of Internet-of-Things services (IoT) were categorized and described in detail [4, 5].  Amongst the available market solutions are

  • Heat pump operation optimization: E.g., Energy Machines “EMV”, an online service with analysis of functionality and performance from live measurements of the heat pump COP, energy production, and cycle efficiency. It is an alternative measurement to energy meters, but also extends beyond the limitations of those, as even more information can be extracted from the thermodynamic cycles [6].
  • Predictive maintenance: E.g., Smart guard, an IoT solution for remote diagnostics for heat pumps to guarantee efficient and safe operation of the heat pump and facilitate maintenance workflows. The remote diagnostics are carried out both automatically and manually by trained service personnel. In particular, the detection of faulty heat pumps is done by an automated algorithm [7].  
  • Provision of flexibility: E.g., tiko power, a system which allows the service provider to switch on/off heat pumps, helping the grid operator to maintain frequency and stability. Energy consumption characteristics of the heat pumps are determined, amongst other parameters, depending on local weather conditions. Remote control is done within defined boundaries to ensure the comfort of the inhabitants and prevent lifetime reduction of the heat pump [8].  

The IEA HPT Annex 56 provided early insight into the digital maturity of connected heat pumps across Europe. The shortly started IEA Project 67 Digital Services for Heat Pumps builds on this and identifies specific digital solutions for heat pumps across their entire lifecycle – from product design and testing to integration, operation, and maintenance – including, e.g., modelling, hardware-in-the-loop tests, and augmented reality [9].  Therefore, IEA’s HPT TCP further helps ensure the maximum service life of heat pumps and their components, as well as the lowest possible operating costs and usability for heat pump operators.

References:

Bernd

Bernd Windholz

Project 67 Operating Agent

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria

Heat Pumping Technologies MAGAZINE, Vol.43 No.2/2025

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