BELGIUM: Sales of heat pumps in Europe are reported to have bounced back in 2021 following a pandemic-hit 2020, with a market increase of more than 25%.

According to latest figures based on “expert opinion” from the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), total sales this year will exceed 2 million units. This followed only modest growth in 2020 of only 7%.

In a total heater market of 7 million units, heat pumps are now said to be representing more than 25% of annual sales.

With the European Commission’s 2019 system integration strategy requiring more than 50 million heat pumps by 2030, the EHPA says that sales levels in 2021 show that markets are on track and that the industry is delivering.

However, the EHPA insists that policy attention and ambition is required to ensure continued growth.

“We require a quick and effective correction of the distorted price mechanism for energy through a) the balancing of energy taxes, b) the introduction of a CO2 price, c) an announced phase out of fossil fuel subsidies and d) the introduction of a support infrastructure including targeted subsidies to help all Europeans to shift towards clean and low carbon heating,” the association says on its website.