Obstacles to the introduction of heat pumps in district heating

Abstract

Today, heat pumps are recognized as one of the technologies that most contribute to the decarbonization of almost all spheres of modern society life, especially industry and energy. The integration of heat pumps into district heating is considered as an implementation of renewable energy technology that will enable the European Union (EU) to achieve its ambitious energy and climate policy goals for developing sustainable society. The purpose of this article is to analyze and systematize the EU experience in overcoming obstacles to the introduction of heat pump technologies in district heating and to determine the possibilities of its application in Ukraine. It was found that it is impossible to ensure the universal integration of heat pumps into district heating for all EU members, and an individual analysis is required for each EU country, taking all technical and environmental aspects into account. Obstacles to the large-scale implementation of heat pump technologies into district heating are of a complex nature. Complex obstacles require an integrated approach that simultaneously removes these obstacles and includes direct incentives, indirect taxes, technical standards, building codes, education, etc. An analysis of the experience of the EU countries (financial support, education and training, preferential tariffs for electricity for heat pump operation, EU regulations on energy efficiency of buildings, the EU directive on renewable energy sources, etc.) made it possible to identify obstacles to the widespread implementation of heat pumps in district heating. The main such obstacles are the high initial cost of heat pump equipment, the high cost of electricity, the high cost of connecting to electricity and heat networks, insufficient government incentives, the lack of domestic production of heat pumps and highly qualified personnel for their implementation. The proposed main preventive measures to overcome these obstacles are the creation of a State Program to stimulate the introduction of heat pumps; legislative support aimed at accelerating the introduction of heat pumps; creation of financial incentives for their implementation; state stimulation of production of heat pump equipment and professional training of operating personnel. This article is aimed at discussing directions for the formation of effective legislative and regulatory measures for comprehensive stimulation of the large-scale introduction of heat pumps in the district heating in Ukraine. Keywords: heat pumps, renewable energy sources, district heating, implementation, obstacles, overcoming.