IEA HPT Project 68: Industrial High-Temperature Heat Pumps

Project start: July 2025. Project completion: May 2028.

Decarbonizing industry with high-temperature heat pumps
Industrial high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) are a promising technology for decarbonizing industrial heat consumption – especially for processes requiring supply temperatures above 100 °C. As a key technology for electrification, they can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial process heat, which today accounts for a significant share of global emissions.

There is a growing interest in industrial high-temperature heat pumps, driven by an increased focus on decarbonization strategies, technological advancements, and the development of policy frameworks such as the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), which encourages companies to reduce their climate footprint.

Project purpose
The overall purpose of Project 68 is to promote the application of industrial high-temperature heat pumps by gathering and sharing high-quality knowledge across countries. The Danish participation aims to accelerate adoption in Danish industry by addressing technological, economic, and informational barriers. At the same time, the project will showcase Danish expertise and strengthen the network between Danish and international stakeholders.

The project's main objectives are to:

• Map technologies: Provide an updated overview of available and emerging high-temperature heat pump technologies and demonstration cases.
• Develop solutions: Develop sector-specific solution concepts and best practices for integrating heat pumps into industrial processes.
• Build competencies: Create educational materials to support knowledge sharing and competence development in academia and industry.
• Disseminate knowledge: Disseminate the results to a wide range of stakeholders to create a common understanding of the technology's potential.

Project structure and activities
The project is organized into four main tasks:

• Task 1: Technology overview and database: Focuses on technological developments and the creation of a database summarizing the current state-of-the-art and promising technologies under development.
• Task 2: Sector-specific solutions and best practices: Aims to promote sector-specific collaborations to develop best practices and overcome barriers to HTHP adoption in industries such as food and beverage, chemicals, and textiles.
• Task 3: Education and competence development: Focuses on developing educational materials that promote the design, integration, and implementation of heat pumps in industrial applications.
• Task 4: Dissemination and networking: Ensures effective dissemination of results through workshops, publications, and presentations aimed at relevant stakeholders.

From international knowledge to national value
The Danish participation in the project will engage and inform Danish stakeholders – including system and component manufacturers, R&D institutes, end-users, and policymakers.

The dissemination efforts will be tailored to the needs of these groups and will include:

• A national workshop to share the latest knowledge.
• The preparation of technical articles targeted at relevant Danish media.
• Targeted events to share results and promote knowledge sharing.

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 technology that contributes to achieving Denmark's energy and climate goals.