Roll-Out of Large-Scale Heat Pumps as A Key Factor for The German Energy & Heat Transition
From less than 1 GW to more than 90 GW installed thermal capacity in less than 25 years: For the climate-neutral transformation of German district heating networks and the decarbonization of process heat, large-scale heat pumps are no-regret measures. This is one of the key findings of a 2023 study by Berlin-based think tank Agora Energiewende and Fraunhofer-Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG. However, to unlock their full potential and accelerate the market rampup, several measures need to be taken. The main fields of action are 1) adaptation of German energy policies and regulations, 2) further industrialization and automation of heat pump manufacturing, and 3) reduction of bureaucracy in the planning, approval, and building process.