Evaluation of large heat pumps to decarbonize District Thermal Networks [32]

The Heat Roadmap Europe (HRE4) models the needed thermal capacity for a decarbonized heating scenario. Large scale heat pumps constitute one of the most important technologies to pursue a future decarbonized heating supply. In this paper a quantitative overview is given for the EU. Based on this future heating challenge it is important that the suppliers and technology developers of the large scale heat pumps take up the challenge and replies to the opportunities and challenges to obtain the best scenarios. The conditions for district heating grids and heat sources for addressing the appropriate heat pump technologies are described. The paper also considers the opportunities for addressing decentralized heating providers like supermarkets and chillers traditionally intended for cooling only.