The EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT – powered by Chillventa – will be held for the first time on 9th and 10th September 2009 at the CongressCenter Nürnberg. The themes of the summit are heat pump technologies in the “Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Heating & Cooling, Components & Equipment” sectors. In an interview, Karl-Heinz Stawiarski, Managing Director, Federal Heat Pump Association (BWP), provides insights into the sector ahead of the forthcoming EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT 2009.

In Germany the heat pump is becoming increasingly significant. 2008 saw a registered market capacity of 62,450 units and thus an increase of more than one third compared to the previous year. In your opinion what was the key contributory factor in this encouraging development?

Karl-Heinz Stawiarski: We mainly owe this outstanding result to the clear advantages offered by the heat pump: economy and efficiency, a non-dependence on raw material imports as well as the considerable contribution to the environment and climatic protection are now convincing an ever-growing number of customers. An additional impulse is generated by funding through the market incentive programme. On this basis, since 2008, the heat pump has been subsidized up to 3,000 Euro.

At Chillventa, the International Trade Fair for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Heat Pumps, for the first time the heat pump industry was able to show its effectiveness and what it can do in the Industrial Heat Pump Village and expand this with lectures on the Heat Pump Forum. What was the response like?

Karl-Heinz Stawiarski: The feedback from the sector was extremely positive. Especially in the area of large-scale heat pumps we see enormous potential which has previously not been sufficiently exploited.

Doesn't this also produce a better interface to classic refrigeration technology, which even heat pump technology is using progressively as an indispensable module coupled with consistent energy-saving measures?

Karl-Heinz Stawiarski: This interface has already been in place since the existence of heat pumps – in a historical context they were in fact developed on the basis of refrigeration technology and the key components are the same. However these heat pump components are specially optimized for heating purposes. I believe that there is a new interface for increased energy efficiency particularly in the commercial sector: in the area of office building cooling, passive cooling, for example using geothermal probes, can achieve considerable energy savings. And with commercial cooling and refrigeration applications such as those in supermarkets we see heat loss on a grand scale, which in turn can be put to outstanding use for heating purposes.

This year, at the initiative of NürnbergMesse, an International Heat Pump Conference is being held for the second time now under the heading EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT on 9th and 10th September at the CongressCenter Nürnberg. The focus here is an international exchange between experts, while the theme spectrum extends across the areas “Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Heating & Cooling, Components & Equipment”. What results can the Federal Heat Pump Association (Bundesverband Wärmepumpe – BWP), as the honorary sponsor, expect from this event?

Karl-Heinz Stawiarski: For our heavily export-orientated industry a good knowledge of the foreign markets and general framework is very important. In addition to this information about heat pumps in other European countries I also expect the EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT to bring together heat pump experts from all over Europe for an exchange.

In your opinion, what distinguishes the EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT from other heat pump events in Germany?

Karl-Heinz Stawiarski: The EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT has a clear international focus and places the emphasis on the industrial and large-scale heat pump. Here we wish to bring together the players and technologies of the various countries. An international event held at the heart of Europe broadens horizons. In contrast to this, at the 7th Heat Pump Forum in Berlin, the focal point is on Federal policy, the German market and the innovations delivered by companies from this country who are frequently among the technology leaders.

In your opinion, what chance does Nuremberg have with Chillventa and the EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP SUMMIT of establishing itself as the new home for the heat pump industry?

Karl-Heinz Stawiarski: I believe there is a good chance that Nuremberg will make a name for itself as a location for conferences and trade fairs focusing on heat pumps. In my opinion Nuremberg’s greatest opportunity as a heat pump exhibition venue lies in focusing on the theme of large-scale industrial heat pumps. Here new networks must be set up in order to move this market forward and stimulate it.

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