Industry urges EU to publish heat pump plan
28th January 2024
EUROPE: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has joined a coalition of 19 energy industry organisations urging the European Commission to publish its Heat Pump Action Plan without delay.
The group, which includes industry associations, NGOs, consumer groups, and think tanks have written to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warning that the “flawed” decision to postpone the heat pump action plan will put the energy transition in heating at risk.
In December, the Commission announced it was postponing the Heat Pump Action Plan – which would set out how it planned to achieve its pledge to install 10 million additional heat pumps by 2027 – until after the EU elections in June.
At the time, the EHPA accused the European Commission of “slamming on the brakes” on the heat pump roll out at a time when sales of heat pumps were slowing down in Europe.
The group urges the Commission to publish the heat pump action plan “without further delay” in order to reach “an energy independent, net zero Europe on time”.
The EHPA’s head of EU Affairs, Jozefien Vanbecelaere, called the Heat Pump Action Plan delay a mistake. “The heat pump sector needs more stable policies to boost the shift from fossil fuels and energy imports to clean heat and energy independence,” she said.
In its letter to the Commission, the group said that throwing the stakeholders into uncertainty by delaying the action plan was exactly the opposite of what was needed.
“Long-term policy signals, and clarity about the shift from fossil fuels to sustainable heating are crucial to reassuring consumers, the sector and all segments of society, including the most vulnerable, to ensure the energy transition,” it says. “With the political balance of Europe on the verge of potentially significant change, we call upon the European Commission to choose determination and progress towards its own Green Deal over fear. We urge you not to tarnish your political legacy by undermining previous efforts towards the 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets.”
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