Many production processes at temperatures between 100 and 200 degrees Celsius can be supplied in a CO₂-neutral manner using industrial heat pumps. Studies, such as an analysis of the transformation processes towards a climate-neutral energy system by Fraunhofer ISE, demonstrate that this represents the most cost-effective method for process heat supply from an economic perspective.

To accelerate the transition, the economic framework conditions should be designed so that German industrial companies focusing on the decarbonization of their heat supply are not financially disadvantaged, as industry representatives demand in their results report.

„A key indicator for the economic operation of heat pumps is the electricity-gas price ratio. The highly regulated energy market offers various levers to control this ratio—especially through regulations on grid fees and CO₂ charges,“ outlines Andreas Burger, a scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and co-organizer, summarizing one of the workshop's conclusions.

In the manufacturing industry, the introduction of new technologies requires a high level of trust, as product quality is paramount and a reliable heat supply must be ensured. „Reference projects within scientifically supported real laboratories could demonstrate the economic and technical feasibility and build trust in the use of industrial heat pumps,” describes Andreas Burger another conclusion of the workshop.

Read the workshop report here (PDF in German only).