After a strong period of growth in 2006, sales of electric heat pumps for hydronic solutions (excluding air to air) have continued to attract the attention of consumers throughout 2007 and the first half of 2008. Financial incentives and legislation, which promote renewable energy have contributed towards consumer awareness in opting for renewable energy solutions. The year 2007 was a turning point for the heating market particularly in Western Europe. Changes in German taxation laws led to a sharp drop in house building projects, which in turn adversely affected sales of heating equipment. The market for domestic gas/ oil boilers declined by as much as 32%.

However, despite this market slump, sales of electric heat pumps seem to have sustained this adverse market condition, as sales were almost unchanged compared to 2006. In France, on the other hand, electric heat pumps sales increased by as much as 30%, with air to water accounting for the largest share of the market while the residential boiler segment decreased by around 16%.

As fossil prices are expected to remain at record levels in the course of 2008 and beyond, an increasing number of countries around the world are showing strong interest in electricity power generation projects deriving from a mix of renewables sources. While wind turbines projects are attracting the most funding together with solar thermal, and biomass CHP plants, the desire to upgrade or install new nuclear power stations is seen by many governments as a way to safeguard energy resources in the future.

In the light of the above, energy efficiency systems are improving all the time, electric heat pumps, and air to water type in particular, are set to challenge the boilers industry in the residential hydronic heating market in several countries, particularly in Japan, France, Switzerland, Germany and Scandinavian countries. While boilers can provide heating only, an increasing number of heat pumps suppliers are promoting systems where heat pumps provide both water heating and comfort cooling functions. Nowadays, some suppliers offer a heat pump system that can be integrated with existing solar thermal collectors to minimise the energy cost to consumers while promoting a complete boiler replacement system.

Source: BSRIA

In the following pages you can find info on the participating brands: Danfoss, Earth Care Products and Trane