Status: 12/28/2022 8:54 a.m
Concerns about gas shortages and high prices are currently making heat pumps popular as a heating system. The industry association expects 350,000 newly installed devices in 2023 – an increase of over 50 percent.
Irrespective of the lack of materials and craftsmen, the heat pump industry is also assuming strong growth for the coming year. Around 350,000 devices are to be built and installed, according to the Federal Heat Pump Association. Based on the forecast of 230,000 new devices this year, that would be an increase of 52 percent.
According to the association, manufacturers and trades are constantly expanding their range. As early as 2022, the industry recorded a forecast increase in sales of around 50 percent compared to the previous year. The main driver is the feared gas crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine: “The desired independence from importing fossil fuels plays a decisive role in the choice of heating system.”
Heat pumps are very popular with consumers
“Consumers take seriously the fact that there could be problems with gas supply security at the moment and that the prices for heating have risen sharply. They are doing their part as far as they can,” said Martin Brandis, speaker for Energy advice from the consumer advice centres, in conversation with tagesschau.de. Improving heating technology to reduce gas consumption is a focus of current consultations with households.
Heat pumps in particular are on the agenda. They are seen as saviors in the energy transition and heating technology of the future. Because they are electrically operated and can therefore use the clean electricity from wind turbines and solar systems. In addition, there is a high level of efficiency compared to other heating options. The federal government therefore has the goal of integrating the heat pump as the new number one among heating systems in this country. From 2024, 500,000 heat pumps are to be installed annually according to the plans. By 2030 there should be a total of six million devices in Germany.
From the point of view of the Federal Heat Pump Association, a lack of materials and bottlenecks among craftsmen could slow down the ramp-up. The waiting times are already between six months and a year. “We are coming from a production capacity that was previously designed for a market of 150,000. But demand is now actually increasing to 500,000,” said the association’s head of politics, Björn Schreinermacher. However, the industry has made it clear that rapid expansion is possible.
Industry considers targets to be realistic despite material bottlenecks
The manufacturer Bosch Thermotechnik, for example, which is one of the leading providers in Germany, has set itself a growth target of 35 to 40 percent for heat pumps. Another production facility in Eibelshausen in central Hesse is scheduled to start in January. The Bosch subsidiary wants to spend almost 300 million euros on electrification by 2025, which will focus on research and development as well as industrialization in the field of heat pumps. 400 million euros have already been invested since 2018.
The demand for heat pumps is still very high, said a spokeswoman. The company is trying to keep delivery times as short as possible – for example, systems are prioritized that can be delivered completely so that the heating engineers can work through this construction site efficiently. However, Bosch Thermotechnology does not expect a short-term improvement in the lack of components.
The Central Association of German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (ZVEH) meanwhile considers the federal government’s target of six million to be realistic. However, several adjustments have to be made at the same time: In addition to building up skilled workers and increasing efficiency through digitization, more incentives are needed from the federal government. Looking ahead, the high electricity prices and declining subsidies are obstacles.