BOOMING EUROPEAN HEAT PUMPS MARKET
18.05.2010
Booming European heat pumps market
With more than 100,000 units installed in the last 3 years, ground source heat pumps are booming in the European market.
EurObserv'ER reports a brief outlook on the main European markets
Germany
Germany is the leading European market. As BWP (German HP association) reports the total number of ground source and air source heat pumps sold increased in the last 2 years by 46.9%. The reason why is the incentive scheme approved in 2008 with subsidies according to different criteria (new/old build, residential/non residential) and HP technology (ground source or air source).
From 1st January 2009, the HP market has benefited from the German law Wärme-EEG (heating RES). According to the law, owners of new buildings are expected to cover part of their heating demand through renewable energies.
Sweden
Sweden has been the first European ground source heat pump market with more than 40% units installed. The reason for is the increase in the cost of energy (oil and electricity) together with new tax measures, such as carbon tax. According to the SVEP (Swedish HP Association), air source heat pumps sales are increasing due to lower capacity required and the extremely high insulation of new buildings. The result is that air source HPs account for over 90% of the market. The general HP sector increased in 2008 with 128,400 units installed. In Sweden, subsidies are available in the form of tax reduction for replacing electric heating systems. This scheme is valid until the end of 2010.
France
France maintained its 3rd place in the EU ground source heat pump market in 2008 with 19,430 units installed in 2008 although according to AFPAC (French HP association) the market is growing slightly (up 4.5% over 2007). The reason for is that the tax credit scheme was not designed to promote ground source technologies. Moreover, the costs of boreholes and heat exchangers are not included in the eligibility for the tax credit. This caused a remarkable increase in air source HPs.
Austria
According to the annual report “Erneuerbare Energie in Österreich, Marktenwicklung 2008” by Austrian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the growth of ground source HP sales is slowing down (up 3.4% between 2007-2008, but up 14.6% between 2006-2007), while air source HP market has increased from 2,110 to 4,057 units installed. The Austrian HP market is affected by the booming construction market, promoted by new energy efficiency regulation. The potential of the Austrian market (renovation + new building) is very high.
More on Heat Pumps Barometer by EurObserv'ER
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