Heat Pumps

Daikin Applied Americas has developed an air-to-water heat pump that can produce 91.2 kW of heat and 23.58 tons of cooling. The new device can be used as a cascade system with water-to-water heat pumps, and can switch between cooling and heating modes, depending on temperature requirements.

UK-based Ideal Heating has developed an air-source heat pump for the UK residential market. It is available in two versions with a heating output of 8.2 kW or 10.3 kW and uses R32 as the refrigerant. It says the heat pump can be paired with rooftop solar to maximize self-consumption.

Sales of gas and oil heating systems are also increasing, however, as the current figures from the Federation of German Heating Industry show. Overall, the market grew by 38% to 306,500 new heaters sold. However, the German Renewable Energy Federation warns against postponing the country’s Building Energy Act requirements to 2027.

The government of the Netherlands has backtracked on its decision to implement a sweeping hybrid heat pump obligation from 2026. Multi-story apartment buildings and listed buildings will be exempted.

The European Commission has opened a call for evidence on its plan to accelerate heat pump roll-out across the European Union. It is asking citizens and businesses for feedback on four strands of action, focusing on financing, legislation, skills, research and innovation. The call for feedback is open until May 26.

pv magazine speaks to Tim Riedel, who owns a 24 kW residential rooftop PV system and a 12.86 kW air-source heat pump, about the return on investment for air-source heat pumps and the savings households can achieve by pairing them with PV.

Carrier, a US-based heating specialist, is set to acquire Germany’s Viessmann Climate Solutions in a €12 billion ($13.27 billion) deal. The acquisition will see Viessmann’s heat pump business fall into the hands of one of the leading market players in the United States, as Carrier looks to expand its reach in the rapidly growing European heat pump market.

German scientists have simulated the seasonal performance of PVT panels in brine-water heat pumps for heating single-family homes. They compared them to air- and ground-source heat pumps with and without PV, and to gas heating systems.

Stiebel Eltron says it will quadruple its heat pump manufacturing capacity at its factory in Holzminden, Germany. It also plans to triple the number of industrial jobs it provides to 1,200 positions by 2027.

Bosch has announced plans to build its first heat pump factory in Dobromierz, Poland. The German heating manufacturer will invest €225 million ($247.3 million) in the new facility, which is expected to start operations in early 2026.