Heat pump assists in energy transition: Challenges and approaches

Abstract

Aligning with ambitious targets and commitments towards carbon neutrality, countries around the world are desperately seeking an energy transition to cope with the stark reality of the climate crisis and the surge in demand for heating and cooling. Increased penetration of renewable power is foreshadowing a shift in global energy dominance, from fossil fuel based heating to renewable power based heating. However, we have to address four underlying challenges in energy transition, including (1) to achieve heat electrification, (2) to utilize decommissioned thermal power plants, (3) to meet the demand for large-scale heat storage, and (4) to puzzle out the final “10 ​%” emissions. Given the above challenges, we put forth four heat pump-assisted approaches to break the bottleneck of energy transition and facilitate effective incentive strategies for policymakers. We highlight that the efficiency and flexibility of heat pumps in thermal energy regulation enable them to push forward an immense influence on the future energy transition for the heating/cooling supply that accounts for 50 ​% of the energy consumption for users and the last “10 ​%” carbon emissions.