A new EU-funded project is set to reduce emissions from industrial heating and cooling by advancing standardised large-scale heat pumps utilising geothermal, solar thermal and excess or “waste” heat for low- and medium-temperature processes. The project aims to address the lack of replicable industrial heat pump solutions. Current systems are often developed as tailor-made installations, which makes them more expensive and complicated to deploy. This also limits their efficiency and impact when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions.
From kick‑off to scalable industrial heat solutions
The HP4INDUSTRY project officially launched with a kick-off meeting in Brussels on 20 January 2026, and will run for three years. The partners will work together to design, develop and validate heat pump-based solutions to help industrial process sectors cut fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while safeguarding competitiveness. It will also deliver innovative business models that can be scaled up across a wide range of industrial applications.
The project focuses on low- and medium-temperature heat applications, where large heat pumps with geothermal, solar thermal and waste heat recovery offer the greatest potential. Priority sectors include pulp and paper, food and beverage, and chemicals, where electrifying process heat can achieve substantial emissions reductions.
A three-phase approach
HP4INDUSTRY follows a structured three-phase approach. In the first phase, the project will map industrial heating and cooling needs and identify available heat upgrade technologies capable of meeting those needs across the targeted sectors. Building on this analysis, project partners will develop virtual heat pump solutions and validate them under real industrial conditions. In the final phase, the consortium will focus on replication and outreach, supporting wider market uptake during the project’s lifetime and beyond.
Integrating ISPT’s expertise in industrial electrification
As part of the HP4INDUSTRY consortium, ISPT builds on its experience from the Flexible Efficient Electrification of Industrial Heat Cases project. In this earlier project, ISPT developed potential routes based on available technologies, modelled through virtual cases in the agro‑food and chemical industries. These simulations enabled companies to share and demonstrate expertise without disclosing confidential information.
The insights gained form an important foundation for HP4INDUSTRY. ISPT contributes by applying an integrated approach that combines energy‑efficiency improvements with flexibility based on electricity markets. Business cases are developed around heat integration, heat storage and industrial heat pumps.
Addressing two persistent barriers to deployment
At the heart of HP4INDUSTRY is the ambition to bridge the gap between technology suppliers and industrial users. The project builds on previous successful cooperation between members of the European Heat Pump Association and the Confederation of European Paper Industries. This led to the publication of a joint paper in 2023 on standardised heat pump integration in paper production. Drawing on this experience, HP4INDUSTRY addresses two persistent barriers to deployment: limited awareness among end users regarding the benefits and potential of heat pumps and hybrid solutions, and an incomplete understanding of industrial process requirements on the side of technology suppliers.
Diverse international consortium
The HP4INDUSTRY project is funded under the European Union’s LIFE Programme. The consortium brings together a broad range of expertise, including: the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC), the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), Turboden SPA, Smart Energy Europe (SmartEn), OPTIT, the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology, Solar Heat Europe, Fraunhofer, MM Frohnleiten GmbH, and CO.PRO.B (Cooperative Society of Italian Sugar Beet Producers).
Acknowledgement
LIFE Programme - EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action