Heat pumps are considered a key technology to decarbonise the building sector though they still have much room to gain in terms of deployment and market share. The 2025 edition of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) conference on Swiss Heat Pump Research showcased applications of heat pumps with a focus on existing buildings and emphasized the need for consistent quality standards across the industry.
Heat pumps have seen significant growth in Switzerland over the past two decades, with around 450,000 units installed. This expansion is part of a broader climate strategy aiming for 1.5 million heat pumps by 2050 to achieve a climate-neutral building stock. Globally, the targets are even more ambitious, with the EU aiming for 60 million units by 2030 and the International Energy Agency projecting 1.8 billion by 2050. With these challenges to be solved, 190 specialists from research, industry and administration gathered at the SFOE conference on Swiss heat pump research, which took place in Bern in mid-June which emphasized the need for standardization and customer-focused business models to accelerate adoption.
Ambitious but achievable goals
According to Marek Miara, operating agent of HPT Project 62 these targets are achievable: Manufacturers have expanded their capacities, the number of skilled workers is increasing and heat pumps are also increasingly being used in apartment blocks, said Miara in the opening speech. Heat pumps can now be used in new single and multi-family homes without any problems, but they still pose “a certain challenge” in existing multi-family homes, said Miara, “we need more standardization.” In general, Miara called for new business models in the heat pump sector that focus on end customer satisfaction.
Focus on existing buildings
To provide accessible solutions to end-users, innovative projects in Switzerland demonstrate how heat pumps can be integrated into existing apartment blocks. For example, a refurbishment in Neuchâtel used three heat pumps and a smart control system to optimize energy use, resulting in a cost reduction for electricity of about 11.5 % or CHF 1,500 per year. Another project in Baden employed a hybrid system combining brine/water and air/water heat pumps, overcoming spatial and regulatory limitations. Research also shows that multi-stage hot water charging systems are more efficient than traditional methods, offering further opportunities for optimization in residential buildings.
When the efficiency of heat pumps is continuously monitored during operation, this can make a major contribution to the efficient supply of heat, lead to savings in winter electricity, identify installation errors as well as optimisation possibilities. Monitoring also increases end customers’ awareness of rational energy utilisation. Graphic: Sustainable Data Platform
Uniform quality standards
Policy developments are crucial to ensuring the efficient operation of heat pumps. The Swiss Climate Protection and Innovation Act mandates professional monitoring for large systems, while smaller systems currently rely on indirect quality assurance through the Wärmepumpen Systemmodul (WPSM). However, experts argue that this is no longer sufficient. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) plans to introduce a new quality assurance framework for heat pumps under 70 kW, aiming to improve energy efficiency and provide a basis for regulatory and financial support. This initiative will involve collaboration with industry stakeholders and cantonal authorities.
Results of current research
Ongoing research continues to refine heat pump technologies. Innovations include sorption heat pumps, advanced heat storage using phase change materials, and refrigerant mixtures with high temperature glide. Additionally, international examples show how heat pumps are being used in industrial drying processes, suggesting untapped potential in Switzerland. These developments highlight the versatility and scalability of heat pump technology across various sectors.
Finally, the increasing use of heat pumps will significantly impact Switzerland’s energy supply. This would not only reduce electricity consumption but also enhance grid flexibility, aligning with Switzerland’s broader energy and climate goals.
Moreover, study by ETH Zurich estimated that increased heat pump use could raise electricity demand by 8.8 TWh annually. Researcher Gianfranco Guidati emphasized that smarter system design could save several TWh, envisioning future heat pumps with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 10—well above today’s average of 3 to 4. “We could save several TWh of this precious winter electricity if we were to use heat pump technology correctly,” he says.
For more information please see the printed documentation for the 31st conference of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy’s ‘Heat Pumps and Refrigeration’ available here. Additionally, specialist articles on research, pilot, demonstration and lighthouse projects in the field of heat pumps and refrigeration can be found at: www.bfe.admin.ch/ec-wp-kaelte
A more detailed article about the conference is available on the website of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in German and in French.
For any further information, please contact Stephan Renz (info@renzconsulting.ch), external head of the SFOE’s Heat Pumps and Refrigeration research programme (and also the HPT TCP by IEA).
Today, heat pumps are also used for industrial drying processes – for example for the cold drying of ‘Bündnerfleisch’ (Grisons beef) in two stages at 12 – 18 °C and 21 – 26 °C respectively. Micarna uses a transcritical CO2 booster refrigeration system (200 kW cooling capacity) with heat recovery for this purpose in Tinizong in the Canton of Graubünden. If the waste heat is not sufficient, a CO2 air/water heat pump (80 kW heating capacity) is used.
Photo: Cordin Arpagaus