The European Heat Pump Summit 2025 is the international meeting place for the heat pump sector. Taking place in Nuremberg on 28-29 October, it will bring together the leading players from industry, research and policy-making. With a high-calibre Congress programme and a fully booked Foyer Expo, the event offers a unique platform for sharing knowledge, innovation and networking.
The importance of the European Heat Pump Summit is more relevant than ever: Heat pump technology is at the heart of Europe’s energy transition, and faces huge challenges at the same time. Regulatory requirements such as the F-Gas Regulation and increasing demands in terms of energy efficiency and security of supply, in addition to the shortage of skilled labour, all create complex tasks for the industry. The Congress examines these topics and illustrates practical, research-based solutions.
“I am really looking forward to the European Heat Pump Summit,” says Daniela Heinkel, Director European Heat Pump Summit and Chillventa at NürnbergMesse. “The programme is highly topical, the Foyer Expo is fully booked, and international attendance by both exhibitors and participants shows how strong the interest in heat pump technology is. Two days packed with interaction, inspiration and innovations await us.”
Transforming the sector: Challenges and answers
The F-Gas Regulation calls for a drastic reduction in synthetic refrigerants by 2030. The industry is responding with a trend toward natural refrigerants such as propane (R290), CO₂ (R744) and ammonia (R717). But the conversion is complex, calling for new safety standards, investments in production facilities and comprehensive training for skilled workers, right at a time when the shortage of skilled workers is palpable.
The programme for the European Heat Pump Summit offers scope to discuss these questions. In the session “R-290 Heat Pumps: Gas Properties and Safety Standard”, for example, Massimiliano Manfro (Aermec S.p.A.) presents opportunities for using R-290 in heat pumps. His focus is on its thermodynamic properties, its flammability and the relevant safety standards.
Saverio Papa and Leopoldo Micò (European Heat Pump Association, EHPA) illustrate what is needed to make heat pumps mainstream in Europe in their presentation “From policy to certification: building trust in the heat pump market”. They will take the audience through political changes, market data and KEYMARK certification, which is designed to build confidence. Papa emphasises the topicality: “Heat pumps have massive potential for reducing Europe's fossil fuel imports and decarbonising buildings and industry. But current sales trends put Europe off-course for its 2030 heat pump goals. To get back on track governments must support consumers who want to buy a heat pump, make electricity prices competitive, and ensure there are enough trained installers. Certification can help unlock the door to customer confidence.”
Technological innovations: Components, systems, applications
Heat pump technology continues to advance, especially in terms of its components. The physical limits are still far from being reached, and further improvements in efficiency are still possible. Of particular relevance are high-temperature compressors, which enable flow temperatures of over 100°C combined with high efficiency, which is a crucial factor in the decarbonization of existing buildings and industrial processes. Oil-free turbocompressors are also gaining in importance, since they improve the acoustic signature and reduce maintenance costs.
The programme for the European Heat Pump Summit specifically examines these developments. Thore Oltersdorf (Fraunhofer ISE), for example, presents a study that delivers information on the leakage properties specific to PHEs. An understanding of the typical extent and nature of leaks in components will enable realistic and effective safety assessments and lead to optimized system designs.
A contribution by Manon Längle (Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH) deals with low-frequency noise from heat pumps and how it can be reduced. He explains how a combination of material knowledge and application expertise generates solutions that effectively minimize vibrations and noise emissions and thus enable quieter, healthier and more socially responsible heat pump solutions in residential settings.
Variety of applications: Practical solutions
Heat pumps have long ceased to be merely solutions for new constructions. In existing buildings, high-temperature heat pumps enable refurbishments with no need to replace radiators. In urban districts, low-temperature heating networks (30-40°C) with decentralized booster heat pumps are revolutionizing the urban heating supply. In an industrial setting, large-scale heat pumps (>1 MW) leverage waste heat potentials up to 150°C – for drying processes or steam generation, for example.
Participants in the European Heat Pump Summit will gain practical insights in this area, for example in the session “Maximizing the Potential of Industrial Heat Pumps: Efficient Solutions for Versatile Applications”. In his presentation, Dirk Schlehuber (Bitzer Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH) examines efficient solutions for generating heat across a broad range of temperatures, from hot water starting at 40°C to pressurized hot water or steam at up to 120°C.
Another practical example is offered by Ivan Rangelov (Danfoss Climate Solutions) in his presentation “Decarbonizing Industrial Process Heat with Heat Pumps: Focus on Food & Beverage”, in which he examines innovative applications and approaches to process integration for heat pumps, especially in the food and beverage sector.
The strong synergy between theory and practice is also especially valuable: The accompanying, fully booked Foyer Expo which complements the Congress programme gives companies, research institutes and professional associations the opportunity to present their products and innovations and be available for direct professional interaction. It is an ideal location for combining the knowledge shared during the Congress with real applications.
Take part now
The European Heat Pump Summit 2025 is more than just a Congress – it is also a strategic forum for the heat pump sector. At a time when energy efficiency, climate protection and security of supply are topics of key interest, this event provides guidance, interaction and inspiration for all players.
