AUSTRALIAN HEAT PUMP ROUNDTABLE

The future direction for heating in Australia and globally is clear, with heat pumps the  technology of choice for most heating requirements below 100°C. In Australia, the heat pump (and MVR) potential is around 65 PJ of heating for the commercial and industrial space. The technology is proven and available here. If you factor in emerging heat pump technologies, the potential for efficient, decarbonised heat goes significantly beyond 65 PJ.

While the direction for decarbonising heat is clear, the path and timing of this transition is not so clear. Many organisations have the right ambitions and intent, but the transition to heat pump technologies can be delayed or obstructed by issues such as resources, economics, energy supply contracts, technology selection and various project constraints. I know from my 20 years’ experience working with technology conversion that such changes can take around 10 years, even when there are clear economic reasons for change. 

Without industry-wide co-ordination, the transition for industrial heat will be longer and harder, all while our CO2 emission targets get harder to achieve. This Australian Heat Pump Roundtable has representation from a broad cross section of stakeholders who we hope are ready to kick off some radical collaboration to fast-track the transition.