Heat pumps
Decarbonising the industrial process heat supply: the potential of high-temperature heat pumps
Benjamin Zühlsdorf coordinates the IEA HPT Annexes 58 and 68 on high-temperature heat pumps, a programme spanning 14 countries, and is a co-initiator and the main organiser of the HTHP Symposium. A view from DTI’s Innovation Director on where the technology stands, what the past decade delivered, and what still needs to move.
Dr. Benjamin Zühlsdorf, Innovation Director Energy and Climate, Danish Technological Institute
Industrial heat pumps are able to provide heat at highest efficiencies based on electric power, which makes them a key technology for the decarbonization of industrial process heating. While they were well proven for long time for supply temperatures below 100 °C with moderate temperature lifts, it was clear that they will become a key technology for decarbonizing process heating at even higher temperatures. It was just a matter of time until the boundary conditions would become favourable enough to make them competitive at even higher temperatures, enabling them to cover most of the process heating for the food & beverage, pulp and paper, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, minerals, textiles and more.
In 2020, DTI and a number of other European research and technology organizations have written the white paper “Strengthening Industrial Heat Pump Innovation – Decarbonizing Industrial Heat” to create awareness for the massive potential of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHP). The white paper has also outlined a way for advancing the technology and unfolding its potential, suggesting both regulatory measures and support for research, development and demonstration activities.
During the subsequent years, a massive increase in R&D activities could be observed, driven by national and international projects, as well as a substantial scaling of the industry, resulting in more than 50 HTHP technologies currently being close-to-market or commercially available. The technologies emerged from both upgraded refrigeration technologies, process gas compression technologies, and novel concepts, and are predominantly based on natural refrigerants.
From DTI, we have been involved in the development, test and demonstration of a variety of technologies, such as: The SuPrHeat project, with a CO2 system, a hydrocarbon cascade system and a steam compression system; The InterHeat project, with two cascade HTHPs with hydrocarbons and steam compression; The SPIRIT project with a 4 MW hydrocarbon heat pump; The Might-HP project with a hydrocarbon-steam cascade system; The EEETHOS project with hydrocarbon and steam compression systems – All of them tested and demonstrated at 500 kW to 4 MW and temperatures well above 100 °C. Today, these technologies are being commercialized, driving the uptake of HTHPs in industries. At the same time, we organize the HTHP Symposium, which became the meeting place of the HTHP community, and coordinate the IEA HPT Projects 58 and 68, which are the key resource of independent information about the HTHP sector.
“Our most important learning has been that collaboration is key to success.”
Dr. Benjamin Zühlsdorf, Danish Technological Institute
Looking at these developments, it can be concluded that technologies are now available for a large range of applications. This shifts the focus towards bringing them into application and scaling deployment.
For the process industry, the electrification of process heating is a major step, requiring nothing less than a complete shift of mindset – in how we design process heating systems, and in how we approach decision-making and long-term planning.
This transition is a major effort for industry and is often seen as a challenge. Yet I encourage decision makers to also see its potential – not only to become sustainable, but also more independent, resilient, and ultimately more competitive.
There are three critical trends, which are giving a whole new dynamic for electrifying industries:
The Electrotech revolution, transforming how we generate, transport, store, and use electric power – enabling increasingly low-cost electricity for industrial end-users
The Clean Industrial Deal of the European Commission, strengthening EU leadership in industrial electrification, making decarbonization more competitive, and reducing fossil fuel imports through substantial support
Sustainability requirements, driven by big companies’ 2030 targets, forcing suppliers to electrify. This removes fossil fuels as an option, shifting the question from “Does it make sense to electrify?” to “What is the cheapest way to electrify?” – a direct, global lever regardless of local conditions
We are at a decisive moment for bringing high-temperature heat pump technologies into application, with the chance to establish HTHPs in the key role they should play in unlocking the potential of electrifying industries. Beyond a strong focus on application, reference installations, operating experience, and scaling the supply chain, I expect further progress in system integration, combination with electric heating and thermal storage, and direct integration into process equipment.
Our most important learning has been that collaboration is key to success. The biggest achievements came whenever we brought together players along the value chain – component manufacturers, system builders, integrators, process equipment manufacturers, end-users, and R&D organizations – to develop, test, and demonstrate technologies.
This is why I believe collaboration is also the key to bringing these technologies into application at the pace needed.
Part of our anniversary publication “30 Years of Championing Refrigerants by Nature”.
