FernWP – District and process heat supply by heat pumps as a replacement for coal combustion

In the course of the coal phase-out, climate-neutral technologies for heat generation play a decisive role. Large heat pumps and high-temperature heat pumps play a central role in the energy transition as the basic technology that creates the foundation for the integration of renewable energies.

Numerous obstacles still hamper the distribution of the technology and prevent penetration of the technology market. Large-scale heat pumps have comparatively long payback periods, so that they are only partially competitive from an economic point of view. In addition, there is a lack of well-founded knowledge and many years of experience regarding the economic application potentials. From a technical perspective, providing heat at the required high temperature levels while maintaining high performance and efficiency is still a challenge.

The project "District and process heat supply by heat pumps as a substitute for coal combustion (FernWP)" addresses the technical and economic barriers that currently still prevent the widespread use of large-scale heat pumps. In this context, it provides answers to important questions that arise when integrating large-scale heat pumps into district and process heat supply. 

https://www.ieg.fraunhofer.de/de/referenzprojekte/fernwp.html