War speeds up EU replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps!

The Russia-Ukraine war pushed the EU to speed up the replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps!

The Russia-Ukraine war has made the EU more vigilant about its dependence on natural gas imports from Russia! The IEA published “A 10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian NaturalGas”

 

 

Among them, suggestions such as “accelerating the replacement of gas burner boilers with heat pumps” and “accelerating the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings and industries” are highlighted, through more and faster promotion of heat pump heating.

In 2021, the EU’s total imports of 155 billion m³ from Russia accounted for about 45% of the EU’s natural gas imports in 2021 and nearly 40% of its total natural gas consumption.

Heat pumps provide a very efficient and cost-effective way to heat a home, replacing gas boilers that use natural gas or other fossil fuels. Accelerating anticipated deployment and targeted investment support by doubling current EU heat pump installation rates could boost heat pump installations.

Replacing gas boilers or furnaces with heat pumps is also an attractive option for industry, although deployment may take longer to scale.

 

Impact

Lower energy bills, improve home heating comfort, increase industrial competitiveness, accelerate building and industrial energy efficiency improvements.

Accelerate building and industrial energy efficiency improvements

• Adapting heating controls in European gas-heated buildings would be another avenue for temporary action that could lead to significant energy savings.
• The current average temperature of building heating across the EU is above 22°C. Adjusting the thermostat for building heating will immediately save approximately 10 billion m³ of energy per year, with each degree reduced, while also lowering energy bills.
• Many EU countries have effective schemes in place to help small businesses improve their energy savings and help protect these businesses from price fluctuations.

Encourage consumers to temporarily adjust their thermostats

• Many homes are installing smart heating controls (smart thermostats) to reduce energy bills and increase home comfort, and it’s a simple process that can scale quickly.
• Annual maintenance checks on gas boilers can be used to ensure that the hot water boiler in the home is set at a temperature that optimizes efficiency, no higher than 60°C.

Public awareness campaigns and other measures, such as consumer feedback or corporate targets, can encourage this change in homes and commercial buildings. Regulations covering office heating temperatures may also prove to be an effective policy tool.