World-leading knowledge center for heat pumps

‘Sustainable energy for all’ is the seventh Sustainable Development Goal in the 2030 Agenda. Despite this, energy supplies in many parts of the world still rely on fossil fuel solutions. In other words, it is high time for the transition. The IEA has developed a roadmap for zero emissions by 2050, with a shift to heating by means of heat pumps in regions in the world where heating is still largely achieved using gas, oil and coal.

The number of installed heat pumps will need to be increased tenfold and will play a key role in the energy transition. As the host of Heat Pump Centre, RISE has contributed to both the analysis and development of some of the technologies used for the basis of the roadmap. 

Heat Pump Centre is led by Caroline Haglund Stignor, Senior Researcher and Head of the Robust and Flexible Energy Systems reinforcement area, and her colleague Monica Axell, Research and Business Developer at RISE. They are supported by a team of researchers, communicators and programme coordinators.

“A large part of the daily work involves disseminating up-to-date information about heat pump technology and the opportunities offered by the technology,” says Haglund Stignor. “For example, new research findings, results from demonstration projects or some form of market development that policy makers or our stakeholders in industry and the research world need to know about.”

Long-term support for the industry

In Sweden, virtually all oil heating has been phased out over the past two decades, primarily by means of heat pumps. This was made possible by Swedish industry, which, with the support of policies and research initiatives, established the first mature heat pump market in the world. The fact that RISE and Sweden managed to become the host of Heat Pump Centre has in many ways contributed to this development. There are now good opportunities for Swedish industry to increase its exports of this environmental technology.

“RISE has supported the Swedish industry for a long time,” says Haglund Stignor. “We had the first accredited laboratory for heat pump testing in Europe and, since then, we have worked extensively with research, testing and information dissemination, all of which has contributed to the technology being further developed and becoming robust and competitive.”

This leads to valuable knowledge when Heat Pump Centre facilitates international research projects. Every year, around three new global collaboration projects are started and the research has contributed greatly to the high efficiency and reliability of heat pump technology today. The projects have also resulted in Haglund Stignor and her colleagues building up an extensive international network with industries and government agencies around the world.

“It has provided contacts that we have been able to share with Swedish industry in different ways,” explains Haglund Stignor. “It may involve helping Swedish companies participate in international research projects or providing them with the information they need to enter a European market.”

Net zero emissions is the target

One of the most recent projects started by the international cooperation programme through Heat Pump Centre aims to develop technologies that make it possible to meet the heating needs of industries at higher temperatures than what is possible today in order to save energy and phase out fossil fuels.

Another project is examining how heat pumping technology can offer flexibility in future energy systems, thereby increasing the proportion of renewable energy. Research, however, is just one element used by the programme and Heat Pump Centre to achieve the zero emissions target.

“We work with research as well as development and demonstration, and we provide support for the technology to enter the market,” says Haglund Stignor. “Our role is to be a link between research, industry, the market and politics.

“But equally important is that we use our expertise to communicate with operators in industry, academia, government agencies or politics that are affected by these issues. There is always information on our website and social media about the latest research, expertise and analyses, as well as summaries of relevant publications geared towards those who develop different forms of financial instruments. In this way, our knowledge is always available for those who need it.”