The Future of Flexible Heat Pumps

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  1. Danish Technological Institute
  2. IEA HPT Annex 70
Morten Herget Christensen

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The Future of Flexible Heat Pumps

IEA HPT Annex 70: Flexibility from Large-Scale and Aggregated Heat Pump Systems

Project start July 2025. Expected completion date May 2028.

Heat Pumps as the Key to a Stable, Green Energy System
As renewable energy sources like wind and solar constitute a growing share of our energy supply, a critical challenge emerges: How do we ensure a stable and efficient energy system when production fluctuates? This challenge is significantly intensified by the simultaneous electrification of the heating sector – a sector that accounts for approximately half of the total energy consumption and thus places enormous demands on the future electricity grid.

This project addresses this very challenge by unlocking the vast potential for flexibility in large-scale and aggregated heat pump systems. Through Danish participation in the international collaboration IEA Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT) Annex, we are working to solidify the role of heat pumps as a crucial component in the decarbonised energy system of the future.

From Challenge to Opportunity
Flexibility is the ability of heat pumps to dynamically adjust their operation – including electricity consumption and heat production – in response to signals from the electricity grid and changes in heat demand. For instance, a flexible heat pump can increase production when there is a surplus of cheap wind power, storing the heat, or ramp down during periods of peak load on the grid. This contributes to:

  • Grid Stability: Balancing the electricity grid and supporting the integration of more renewable energy.
  • Energy Efficiency: Optimizing operation and making the best use of energy.
  • Decarbonization: Accelerating the green transition through intelligent sector coupling.

The project builds on the findings of a previous annex – Annex 57: Flexibility by Implementing Heat Pumps in Multi-Vector Energy Systems – and now expands its scope to include large-scale and high-temperature heat pump systems, aggregated medium-scale units, and their interaction with energy storage technologies like thermal energy storage (TES) and batteries or electric vehicles. 

The Project's Overall Objectives
Our participation in the annex has four primary objectives:

  • Expand the knowledge base on heat pump flexibility, focusing on balancing energy supply and demand on both the electricity and thermal sides.
  • Identify and mitigate technical, regulatory, and economic barriers that hinder the flexible operation of heat pumps.
  • Develop innovative business models and market mechanisms that make it economically attractive to operate heat pumps flexibly.
  • Share findings and raise awareness through educational materials, workshops, and close collaboration with industry stakeholders.

The Project's Five Main Tasks
The work is organized into five complementary tasks to ensure a holistic approach:

  1. Technological Innovation and System Integration: Addressing technical challenges such as ramp-up times, part-load inefficiencies, dynamic control of heat pumps and integration with energy storage to optimize overall system performance.
  2. Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks and Markets: Investigating barriers in current regulations and market mechanisms, and engaging stakeholders to promote better market access for flexibility services.
  3. Development of Sustainable Business Models: Creating concrete business cases that demonstrate the economic value of flexibility for both heat pump owners and the energy system.
  4. Dissemination, Education, and Stakeholder Engagement: Developing educational materials and communication strategies to increase awareness and acceptance of flexible heat pump solutions.
  5. International Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Disseminating the project's results through workshops, conferences, and scientific publications to ensure maximum knowledge exchange.

Project Partners
The Danish participation in the project is managed by a strong collaboration between Danish Technological Institute (Project Manager and Operating Agent) and DTU Construct.

Funding
The project is funded by The Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP). EUDP supports the development and demonstration of new technologies that contribute to achieving Denmark's energy and climate goals.