The 2026 China International Heat Pump Conference (CHPC 2026) took place in Shanghai, China, from October 13 to 17, bringing together more than 600 participants from 22 countries and regions. Organized by the Chinese Association of Refrigeration and co-sponsored by the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), the event focused on heat-pump technologies for energy efficiency, decarbonisation and sustainable development.
The conference programme covered industrial high-temperature heat pumps, waste-heat recovery and upgrading, building energy systems, and thermal management for data centers and transport. Technical sessions also addressed heat-pump components, advanced control technologies, low-carbon refrigerants, and applications in agriculture and livestock production.
Speakers examined the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve heat-pump-system design, operation and reliability. Discussions involving researchers, manufacturers, engineering companies and end users identified technical and market barriers, including the need for reliable high-temperature solutions, improved component performance, system-level optimisation and application-specific design.
The conference highlighted heat-pump applications beyond residential and commercial buildings, including industrial processes, transport, agriculture, digital infrastructure and integrated energy systems. These applications were discussed in the context of reducing fossil-fuel consumption and improving energy efficiency.
CHPC 2026 also provided opportunities for international research exchange, practical solution demonstrations and partnerships across the heat-pump value chain. Participants emphasised stronger international cooperation to support further development and deployment of heat-pump technologies.
