Join our upcoming webinar "The Road to Sustainable Industrial Heat: A Roundtable on the Future of Industrial Heat Pumps"
Join us for an insightful webinar where we will present the key findings of a PESTLE analysis conducted within thePUSH2HEAT project. This study identifies the barriers and opportunities for industrial heat pumps across Europe, offering valuable insights to shape policies and drive their widespread adoption.
Following the presentation of these findings, speakers from academia and industry, along with policy experts, will share their perspectives on the future of industrial heat pumps and their views on the PESTLE analysis results.
As Europe works towards its climate goals, Decarb Cities 2025 will hold its next conference in Kraków, Poland. This fourth edition will focus on practical solutions, policies, and strategies to help cities shift from fossil fuel-based heating to renewable energy sources, particularly heat pumps. Join us and find out more about Push2heat.
Learn more about the work being carried out surrounding the project's demonstration sites:
Demo Site in Weissenborn, Germany
Industry in which it’s applied: Pulp and Paper
Technology Involved: Vapour Compression heat pump with piston compressors
Partners involved: Fraunhofer (Knowledge Provider and performance assessment), Sustainable Process Heat (Technology provider) and Felix Schoeller (Demo Site Owner)
Demosite in Weissenborn
Progress
After successful delivery of the container solution with the double stage High-Temperature Heat Pump by SPH the integration works have been finalized. Approval procedures have been initiated and are waiting finalization in the next weeks. Further, commissioning works related to the HP system have started such as the evacuation and filling of the Low-Temperature circuit (R515), checks on safety related components, IO-checks, etc.
Next steps
In the upcoming weeks SPH will finalize the commissioning works related to the High-Temperature Heat Pump and work closely with the site owners on control integration, first operational tests, monitoring system, control optimization, as well as training of staff on site. Entering a period of the year with higher ambient air temperatures, thus with sufficient waste heat availability (HP operation time: April to October), the HP operation will generate first data around its performance and provide valuable insight into the technology's potential for the demo site and other industrial sectors as well.
Demo Site in Guarcino, Italy
Industry in which it’s applied: Pulp and Paper Technologies involved: Absorption Heat Transformer (AHT)
Partners involved: Tecnalia (System design and performance assessment), Technische Universtät Berlin (Technology and Operation optimisation), BSNOVA (Technology Provider), Cartiere di Guarcino (Demo Site Owner) and BONO ENERGIA (system integrator and engineering)
The demo definition started with an analysis and definition of requirements of the plant, followed by the planning & engineering phase, and equipment manufacturing, which is ongoing. Next steps are the system integration, followed by commissioning and first performance tests.
Progress
Technical activities are on track, with Absorption Heat Transformer (AHT) and Steam Generation Module (SGM) manufacturing ongoing. Also, engineering phase is finalizing and preparation in CARTIERE DI GUARCINO plant is ongoing for system integration.
BS NOVA is manufacturing the Absorption Heat Transformer in their facilities in Siegen (Germany). Two big bundles compose the AHT, one of them is dedicated to the condenser and desorber, and the other one to the evaporator and absorber. The bundles include a number of tubes sized for providing heat and mass exchange (water-lithium bromide) in order to provide around 350 kW of upgraded heat at around 142 ͦC. The bundles have been already manufactured and assembled one on top of the other, integrated into a skid.
BS NOVA is currently working on all the piping and installation of fittings and metering devices. Following steps will be galvanizing and painting, followed by the insulation an electric works.
Bundles manufacturing of AHT
TECNALIA has designed the complete Steam Generation Module and its control strategy. The SGM is now under construction by a Spanish company specialised on Steam systems and thermocompression.
Next steps
TECNALIA and TU BERLIN, with its partner for control Factor4Solutions, are working on a new control system, integrating the latest state-of-the-art control strategies for absorption chillers for minimal auxiliary consumption with the internal control routines specifically developed for absorption heat transformers, based on the operation improvement developed with laboratory prototypes. The new control will be written on the PLC delivered by BS Nova.
The AHT and SGM will be sent to CARTIERE DI GUARCINO (Italy) in April, and BONO ENGINEERING will integrate all the system in the paper mill. BONO is working on the site preparation for when the equipment arrives at the plant. Connections are needed between the AHT and the waste heat circuit coming from the cogeneration plant providing energy to CdG plant. Also, a connection is needed for the rejection circuit (for the condenser of AHT). AHT will be connected to the Steam Generation Module where steam will be produced at low pressure and recompressed to a higher pressure level by a thermocompressor. Generated steam at medium pressure level will be connected to a steam header to feed the processes needing medium pressure steam. Commissioning of the system is planned before summer.
Latest News
Thermal Energy Decarbonization Summit (TEDS25): Steam Generation with Heat Upgrade Technologies for Industrial Decarbonization
Last 19th February, Laura Alonso from TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION participated in the Thermal Energy Decarbonization Summit (TEDS25) event organized by CIC Energigune, with a poster about Steam generation with Heat Upgrade Technologies, where Push2Heat project was included. The poster showcases different modes of generating steam with HUTs such as Absorption Heat Transformers and High Temperature Heat Pumps, differentiating between direct and indirect steam generation, and also their combination with pressure upgrade systems, such as thermocompressors or mechanical vapor recompression systems. Additionally, it shows developments at Lab-scale, with a dedicated steam test bench in TECNALIA’s laboratory; and Real scale application in the industry with the third demo site of PUSH2HEAT project (Absorption heat transformer for steam generation in a paper mill).
National Workshop on the Technological Collaboration Programme for Heat Pumping Technologies
On November 11th, the Cartif Foundation delivered a speech focused on the exchange of experiences and the dissemination of practical applications of heat pump technologies. Through various projects, including the Push2Heat project, the foundation provided valuable insights into the real-world implementation of heat pumps, offering key knowledge to advance the technology across different sectors.
International Congress of Sustainability Science & Engineering (ICOSSE’25)
The International Congress of Sustainability Science & Engineering (ICOSSE’25) took place on February 20-22, 2025, at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, covering key topics such as clean energy technologies, resource efficiency, and industrial decarbonization. Cordin Arpagaus (OST) dpresented an invited neynote lecture on High-Temperature Heat Pumps: Market Overview, State of the Art and Application Potentials.
Low-Pressure Steam Generation with Concentrating Solar Energy and Different Heat Upgrade Technologies: Potential in the European Industry
A new journal paper, to which UPV and OST contributed, delves into a techno-economic analysis of alternatives to replace industrial gas boilers for low-pressure steam production at 120 °C and 150 °C. The study evaluates Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP), Electric Boilers (EBs), High-Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHPs), and Absorption Heat Transformers (AHTs) in terms of their CO2 emission reduction potential. SHIP systems demonstrate promising payback periods of 4 to 5 years in regions with high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), including Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Romania. Meanwhile, HTHPs and AHTs offer the shortest payback periods, lowest Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH), and the greatest CO2 savings, particularly in countries with a low electricity-to-gas price ratio, achieving payback in under 1.5 years.
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Industrial High-temperature to Residential small-size Heat Pumps: A Critical Review
As part of the PUSH2HEAT project, the article "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Industrial High-temperature to Residential small-size Heat Pumps: A Critical Review" has just been published in Energy Conversion and Management: X. This study reviews existing environmental life cycle assessment studies of (i) high-temperature, (ii) large-size (over 300 kWth), and (iii) medium and small-size heat pumps.
The analysis indicates that life cycle assessment studies often use a narrow approach with limited modeling variability. Future research should focus on accurately simulating the thermodynamic behavior of heat pumps, incorporating stochastic evaluations to address uncertainties, and applying a consequential approach for high-temperature heat pumps to better assess their environmental impact in industrial processes.
Experimental research and prototypes of high temperature heat pumps in Spain.
The article titled "Investigación experimental y prototipos de bombas de calor de alta temperatura en España" has been published in FRÍO CALOR AIRE ACONDICIONADO, a Spanish-language magazine dedicated to the latest innovations and research in the refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning sectors.
The article focuses on experimental research and prototypes of high-temperature heat pumps in Spain, highlighting their potential to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in industrial heating. The article also presents the detailed testing of various refrigerants and components, as well as their efficiency in terms of the coefficient of performance. The Push2Heat project is mentioned as a key initiative to promote the adoption of these heat pump technologies, focusing on performance optimization and overcoming technical barriers to support industrial decarbonization in Europe.
EECA Workshop, 17 December 2024, Christchurch, New Zealand
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is a New Zealand government agency dedicated to promoting energy efficiency and conservation.
On 17 December 2024 in Christchurch, Cordin Arpagaus from OST presented "High-Temperature Heat Pumps: Review and New Developments for Steam Generation," discussing recent advancements in high-temperature heat pump technologies and their potential for steam generation in industrial applications.
Sister Projects News
SPIRIT
Are you an industrial heat pump manufacturer? We need your input!
As part of the SPIRIT project, two reports on non-technical barriers and opportunities and skill needs for industrial heat pumps in the EU.
