Participating Countries - Norway

Norway aims for reducing CO2 emissions by 55 % within 2030. Further electrification in several sectors including transport and industry is necessary to achieve these objectives. An example is industrial process heating, where high-temperature heat pumps together with utilization of industrial waste heat are key enablers to reduce energy consumption and achieve reduction in CO2 emissions.

The Norwegian working group is coordinated by SINTEF Energy Research, a part of SINTEF, which is one of Europe’s largest independent research groups. This is a research institute for applied research, creating innovative energy solutions. SINTEF offers world leading competence on high-temperature heat pumps (HTHP), especially within natural working fluids such as water, CO2, and hydrocarbons. Some of the areas within HTHPs that they are working with include system integration and evaluation of heat pump solutions, development of compressors and heat exchanger design, combined heating and refrigeration/cooling, turbo compressors and steam producing heat pumps.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is also a member of the Norwegian project team, represented by a PhD student from the Faculty of Engineering, more precisely the Department of Energy and Process Engineering. This department currently educates approximately 100 doctoral candidates and has amongst others established itself as a leading institution in the field of refrigeration and the application of natural working fluids. The university will further contribute to the project by leveraging its well-established networks across both Norwegian and international industry and academia.

NTNU and SINTEF maintain a strong collaborative relationship, particularly in research and laboratory development. Through this partnership, NTNU and SINTEF possess extensive experience and access to cutting-edge laboratory facilities. A range of test rigs are available for development of HTHP technology, including MultiTest-rack and SuperSmart-Rack for testing CO2 vapor compression technology, Turbo2steam – turbo-compressor for steam HTHP, and a propane-butane cascade HTHP and chiller rig. The Norwegian participation in Project 68 is partly funded by Enova, an organization that supports research and development of energy and climate technology, and Norway’s transition to a low-emission society. This is achieved through financial support programmes. Enova is working to ensure that new energy and climate technology is developed and adopted in the market

Relevant ongoing or finalized R&D projects of the national team partners:

• Participation in the IEA HPT Annex 58 about High-Temperature Heat Pumps, 2021 – 2023, Project partners: SINTEF, Enova (enabling partner)
• Free2Heat – development of a robust and sustainable two-phase heat pump, 2018 – 2023, SINTEF, ToCircle Industries
• HeatUp – High temperature heat pumps for efficient utilisation of low temperature surplus heat 2015 – 2019, Project partners: SINTEF, Equinor, Statkraft varme, Hydro aluminium, Vedde, Tine, MARS, Cadio, HybridEnergy, Epcon evaporation Technology
• HighEFF – Centre for an Energy Efficient and Competitive Industry for the Future, 2016 – 2024, SINTEF (leading partner), Enova (enabling partner), NTNU plus many other research and industry partners
• FRIENDSHIP – Forthcoming Research and Industry for European and National Development of Solar Heating for Industrial Processes, 2020 – 2024, Project partners: CEA, SINTEF, Absolicon, Industrial Solar, NIC, Rina Consulting, INES, Clariant, SONAE, AMIRES
• SkaleUP – Sustainable and efficient heat pump development for combined process heat and cool, 2019 – 2022, project partners: Skala Fabrikk, SINTEF, Tine, Cadio, Officine Mario Dorin
• DryF – heat pump in industrial drying and dehydration processes, 2016 – 2020, SINTEF, AIT, Agrana, Bitzer, Chemours, Epcon Evaporation Technology, Fuchs Schmierstoffe, Rotrex, RTDS Association, Scanship, Viking Heat Engines, Wienerberger, Heaten
• White Paper: Strengthening Industrial Heat Pump Innovation – Decarbonizing Industrial Heat, 2020, Involved partners: TNO, AIT, SINTEF, DTU, DTI, University of Valencia, RISE, OST
• Symposium about High-Temperature Heat Pumps, Approximately every second year: 2017, 2019 and 2022, Organizing Committee: DTI, DTU, SINTEF