New Zealand has joined IEA HPT TCP Project 68 as a limited sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to advancing high-temperature heat pump technologies and accelerating the decarbonisation of industrial process heat. Through its participation, New Zealand contributes national expertise, research capacity, and policy experience to the international effort to scale up industrial heat pump solutions for energy-intensive sectors.
National Leadership and Key Partners
New Zealand’s contribution to Project 68 is coordinated by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which serves as the national coordinator and project leader. EECA is a Crown entity responsible for promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions reduction across the country. It brings extensive experience in industrial heat pump deployment, policy instruments, and market development. To join the TCP as a limited sponsor means a temporary try-out period for the country when they can join one of the TCP projects in order to evaluate the benefits of a future full membership in the TCP.
The Ahuroa Centre at the University of Waikato acts as the national research partner. The Centre contributes analytical expertise, research leadership, and demonstration infrastructure, complementing EECA’s strong industry network and technology deployment capabilities. Together, EECA and the Ahuroa Centre form the core national consortium supporting New Zealand’s participation in Project 68.
Contribution to Energy Efficiency and Industrial Decarbonisation
Industrial process heat accounts for approximately 60–65 percent of industrial final energy demand in New Zealand and is still largely supplied by coal and natural gas. Decarbonising this segment is therefore a national priority within the country’s broader climate strategy, which targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Through Project 68, New Zealand focuses on the development, demonstration, and integration of industrial heat pumps, including high-temperature and steam-generating systems. These technologies are recognised as critical pathways to reduce fossil fuel use, improve energy efficiency, and support the electrification of industrial processes. The national project builds on more than a decade of initiatives led by EECA, including technology demonstration programmes, deployment funding, industrial energy assessments, and data-driven mapping of decarbonisation opportunities.
By strengthening the knowledge base, accelerating technology adoption, and supporting large-scale industrial applications, New Zealand’s participation in Project 68 contributes directly to improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions in the industrial sector.
Alignment with the Objectives of Project 68
New Zealand’s national project aligns closely with the overarching objectives of Project 68, which aims to advance knowledge, deployment, and system integration of high-temperature heat pumps across industrial applications. The country’s work on system integration, techno-economic assessment, waste heat recovery, and electricity–heat sector coupling directly supports the project’s ambition to develop robust technical, economic, and operational frameworks for industrial heat pump solutions.
The combination of policy instruments, demonstration projects, and applied research within the New Zealand programme provides valuable insights into how high-temperature heat pumps can be deployed at scale in real industrial contexts.
Knowledge Sharing and International Impact
The findings and results from New Zealand’s national project are expected to provide important lessons for other countries participating in Project 68. Experiences from industrial site assessments, steam heat pump demonstrations, and system integration studies can inform technology choices, policy design, and implementation strategies in diverse national contexts.
By contributing data, analytical methods, and practical case studies, New Zealand helps strengthen the collective knowledge base of Project 68 and supports evidence-based decision-making among participating countries.
The Value of International Collaboration
New Zealand’s participation underscores the importance of international collaboration within the HPT TCP framework. Project 68 provides a platform for countries to exchange knowledge, compare approaches, and jointly address common challenges in industrial decarbonisation.
Through active engagement in Project 68, New Zealand not only advances its own national energy transition but also contributes to a broader international effort to accelerate the deployment of high-temperature heat pumps. This collaborative approach reflects the core mission of the HPT TCP: to foster innovation, learning, and shared progress toward more efficient and sustainable energy systems worldwide. To find out more about Project 68, visit our website: https://heatpumpingtechnologies.org/project68/