EHPA’s latest webinar marked the launch of the SKILLS4HP Cluster, bringing together five EU projects focused on workforce skills for Europe’s heat pump sector.
The session addressed a key constraint in the heat pump rollout: a shortage of skilled installers, planners and technicians. According to the source, the rollout is accelerating due to energy security concerns, high gas prices and policy support, but skills remain a major bottleneck for wider deployment.
SKILLSAFE EU, represented by Marco Masini from CSIM, has an investment of over €1.36 million. The project is developing industry-wide guidelines for safe handling of heat pumps using R290 refrigerant across transport, installation, maintenance and disposal. Its SKILLSAFE EU Guidelines were published in May 2025, supported by technical papers and an on-site risk assessment methodology.
The project is also running trial trainings with installers to test and refine the guidelines in real conditions. Sessions have taken place in the Netherlands, Spain and the Czech Republic, with more planned in other EU countries.
HEATCRAFTHP, represented by Wilko Rohlfs from RWTH Aachen University, has a budget of around €1.58 million. The project focuses on identifying skill gaps and embedding learning in the workplace. Based on stakeholder interviews, it points to issues including limited hands-on training and insufficient knowledge in hydraulics and system design.
The cluster also includes install.res, represented by Herbert Tretter from the Austrian Energy Agency and Tadeja Janša from the Jožef Stefan Institute. The project is developing practical implementation and financing models in countries including Austria, the Netherlands and Poland, with a toolbox covering delivery models, business models and a fast-track scheme for renovation and installation decisions.
