The IIR Publishes a Technical Brief on High-Temperature Heat Pumps: A Key Technology for Industrial Decarbonisation

Paris, April 2026 — The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is pleased to announce the publication of its Technical Brief on High-Temperature Heat Pumps (HTHPs), authored by Professor Ruzhu Wang of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, and an international team of experts. The brief provides a thorough review of HTHP system configurations, working fluids, key components, commercial products, real-world applications, and economic and environmental performance.
 

Industrial heating accounts for approximately 37% of global energy consumption, with two-thirds of that dedicated to heat generation. The 100–200°C temperature range, the primary target for HTHPs, is critical for a wide range of industrial processes, including food processing, chemical engineering, textiles, paper-making, and plastics manufacturing. Replacing the fossil-fuel boilers that currently dominate this sector with electrified, high-efficiency alternatives is essential to meeting global decarbonisation targets.

 

A technology reaching commercial maturity

High-temperature heat pumps have progressed significantly over the past decade. Commercial systems are now available at high technology readiness levels, covering heating temperatures from 90°C to 300°C and capacities ranging from kilowatts to 100 MW. Annual scientific publications in the field grew from 921 in 2010 to 5,480 in 2024, reflecting the strong and sustained growth of global research activity.

 

The IIR Technical Brief documents three main system categories: compression, absorption, and hybrid absorption-compression high-temperature heat pumps, and describes how innovative applications, including dual-use systems combining simultaneous heating and cooling, and integration with thermal energy storage, can further improve efficiency and economic performance.

 

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“High-temperature heat pumps are the key to decarbonizing industrial heat supply and providing thermal energy via renewable electricity. Working fluids, energy efficiency, stability, scalability, electricity-to-thermal energy conversion and regulation, as well as thermal storage, are the core key elements. It is urgent to research and develop various types of high-temperature heat pumps to replace fossil fuel–fired boilers and electric boilers.” - Professor Ruzhu Wang, Lead Author, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.

 

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Economic and environmental performance

The brief provides a rigorous comparison between HTHPs and conventional fossil-fuel boilers. HTHPs offer a coefficient of performance (COP) above 1.5, meaning they deliver more heat energy than the electrical energy they consume, giving them an inherent efficiency advantage over all types of boilers. However, their economic and environmental competitiveness currently depends on local electricity-to-fuel price ratios and the carbon intensity of national electricity grids.

 

Countries with clean electricity grids and low electricity-to-fuel price ratios already benefit from HTHP adoption. As national power systems continue their transition to renewable energy, the environmental and economic advantages of HTHPs are expected to increase significantly across all regions.

 

Policy recommendations

The IIR’s latest Technical Brief identifies targeted policy actions needed to accelerate HTHP deployment at scale, including: the establishment of performance-based subsidies; support for demonstration projects across key industrial sectors; the introduction or extension of carbon pricing mechanisms; investment in professional training and workforce development; and regulatory clarity on refrigerant phase-out timelines.

 

To support policy audiences, the IIR has also produced a dedicated two-page Summary for Policy makers, making the key findings and recommendations accessible to non-technical decision-makers.

 

 

About the IIR:

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to advancing refrigeration and heat pump technologies and their application for a sustainable future. With the world’s most comprehensive knowledge base, peer-reviewed publications, and regular international scientific conferences, the IIR drives the dissemination of cutting-edge research and fosters global collaboration across the sector. The IIR connects researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to support informed decision-making and turn scientific progress into practical and reliable applications. Founded after the first International Congress of Refrigeration held in 1908, the IIR is a global reference, providing trusted knowledge and data to support the deployment of sustainable, efficient refrigeration technologies essential to food security, healthcare, and climate action.

 

Press contact: n.nabila@iifiir.org / +33 (0) 1 42 27 32 35