CLASP, along with eight leading European environmental organizations, submitted a letter urging European Union (EU) countries to prioritize climate-friendly refrigerant heat pumps to help achieve climate goals.

The letter, submitted to the European Commission (EC), was timely, as EU Member States prepare to allocate funding from a €86 billion Social Climate Fund (SCF) and implement the EU’s goal for rapid heat pump deployment.

Key recommendations to the European Commission

• Prioritize heat pumps with natural refrigerants over high-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs or F-gases). There is a long-term climate risk linked to the use of HFC-based systems, as HFCs have hundreds to thousands of times more GWP than natural refrigerants.
• Establish financial incentives for natural refrigerant heat pumps. EU Member States should offer extra subsidies or bonuses for the adoption of natural refrigerant heat pumps. Germany’s additional 5% grant, for homeowners who install heat pumps using natural refrigerants, provides an example of how targeted support can accelerate the shift to more climate-friendly heat pumps.
• Set a clear timeline for phasing out public funding for F-gas heat pumps. CLASP, the Environmental Investigation Agency, and the other signatories suggest defining a cut-off date, after which the installation of heat pumps that use climate-damaging HFC refrigerants should no longer be funded. This would align with the direction of EU legislation and offer much-needed clarity for industry and European consumers. Germany has already taken action: from 2028, only natural refrigerant heat pumps will be eligible for funding.¹

Why is it important to transition to climate-friendly heat pumps?

If Member States continue allowing the installation of new equipment using HFCs, heat pumps installed today could still be operating decades from now, impacting the EU’s ability to meet its 2050 net zero target.

Data from the German incentive scheme² indicate that natural refrigerant heat pumps are, on average, more energy-efficient than F-gas systems across all temperature ranges. This means they require less energy and reduce consumers costs to run. Their ability to operate at high temperatures also makes them an ideal choice for boiler retrofits.

To support market transformation efforts in this field, CLASP is researching the deployment of natural refrigerant heat pumps and the barriers to their adoption in the EU and the United Kingdom. More information on the topic can be found here.