EPEE Warns of Major Barriers to Heat Pump Deployment in Europe

EPEE Warns of Major Barriers to Heat Pump Deployment in Europe

Belgium/EU: The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) has warned that the large-scale adoption of heat pumps in Europe is being constrained by high electricity-to-gas price ratios, limited grid investment, and inconsistencies in legislative frameworks. Responding to the European Commission’s public consultation on the upcoming Heating and Cooling Strategy, EPEE said the policy revision presents a key opportunity to address these issues and accelerate the decarbonisation of the sector. The Heating and Cooling Strategy, expected in early 2026, aims to promote energy efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and increase the use of waste heat, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. 

EPEE’s position paper calls for a comprehensive approach combining energy efficiency, affordability, skills development, and regulatory coherence. It highlights that the recovery of waste heat from industries, supermarkets, and data centres remains underutilised, while the current electricity tax structure in many EU member states makes clean technologies less competitive. The group advocates for lower VAT on electricity, reforms in energy levies, and greater investment in workforce training to address installer shortages. EPEE also urged the European Commission to harmonise legislation across directives and regulations related to energy, buildings, and refrigerants, and to improve access to clean technologies through measures such as social leasing schemes and low-interest financing. 

Source: Cooling Post