Today, EIA and a group of European NGOs have written to the European Commission to urge it to support the roll-out of best-in-class natural refrigerant heat pumps.

The initiative would be paid for from funding allocated to support those most at risk from the costs associated with the upcoming inclusion of fossil fuels for heating and transport in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

Heat pumps are key to the decarbonisation of heating and are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 66-80 per cent compared to a fossil gas boiler.

Installing a heat pump

However, most heat pumps currently use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a group of super-polluting greenhouse gases with climate impacts hundreds or thousands of times that of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

HFCs are used as the refrigerant gas in heat pump systems and can leak out during production, use, maintenance and at end-of-life.

Luckily, natural refrigerants, which include propane, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and ammonia, offer lower climate impact alternatives. Heat pumps using these refrigerants in place of HFCs are already available on European and British markets.

Natural refrigerant heat pumps have a range of additional consumer benefits. Market data reveals they are, on average, 6-7 per cent more energy efficient than HFC systems. They are also quieter and offer higher flow temperatures, meaning they can be installed into existing radiator systems and are well suited to a broader range of homes.

EU Member States are currently putting together plans to spend funds provided to them under the €86 billion Social Climate Fund.

For many households, one of the key ways to decarbonise homes is through the replacement of heating systems with heat pumps.

EIA Climate Campaigner Adam Aucock said: “The transition to heat pumps is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to clean up our heating systems. Ensuing additional funding to support uptake of best-in-class natural refrigerant heat pumps not only brings climate benefits but supports consumers through lower energy bills.”

Today, EIA also releases its new report, Pumping Up the Potential: Maximising the climate benefits of Europe’s heat pump roll-out with natural refrigerants, highlighting the benefits, barriers and future challenges associated with the uptake of natural refrigerant heat pumps.

“Key actions for both EU and UK governments include updating standards, mandatory training for technicians handling natural refrigerants and subsidies targeted at natural refrigerants,” added Aucock.

“Given that heat pumps are built to last for 20-25 years, systems installed now could still be in use in 2050. By that time, both the UK and EU have pledged to reach net zero. The roll out of heat pumps reliant on highly climate damaging HFCs could seriously threaten the ability to meet these targets.”