The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has issued a position paper outlining its recommendations for the European Commission’s forthcoming Heating and Cooling Strategy, emphasising the need to make heat pumps the central technology for decarbonising the sector.
Heating and cooling account for over 50% of the EU’s total energy consumption, with around 70% still sourced from fossil fuels as of 2023. EHPA argues that heat pumps offer a mature and efficient alternative capable of providing both heating and cooling, while supporting the integration of renewables and waste heat into the energy system.
The EHPA paper calls for alignment of EU legislation, including the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), to ensure consistent and enforceable policies. It suggests using the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) as a coordination tool and recommends updating outdated reporting methodologies to reflect current heat pump technologies.
To improve deployment, EHPA highlights the need to revise electricity pricing structures, coordinate national subsidy schemes, and promote financing models such as social leasing. The organisation also stresses the importance of supporting local heat planning, implementing one-stop shops for technical and financial advice, and recognising cooling as a basic energy service.
In its ten key recommendations, EHPA also advocates for:
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Broader definitions and obligations for waste heat recovery,
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Expansion of district heating and cooling (DHC) networks powered by large heat pumps,
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Reduction of regulatory complexity across Member States,
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Prioritisation of heat pumps for industrial processes below 200°C.
“Heat pumps represent the most efficient and scalable solution to decarbonise heating and cooling, while strengthening Europe’s energy security,” the paper concludes.
The position paper was published in October 2025.
