Better heat pump design: how manufacturers can help

Heat pumps are at the heart of Europe's heating decarbonisation strategy, but achieving their theoretical efficiency in real-world installations remains a challenge. A new paper in Nature argues that the gap between laboratory performance and on-site results is largely a design problem — one that manufacturers are uniquely positioned to help solve.

The study suggests that manufacturers should more actively share simulation tools, detailed component data, and system-level guidance with installers and engineers. When the full system — insulation levels, emitter types, controls — is properly matched to the heat pump, seasonal performance factors can improve dramatically.

This is particularly relevant in countries like Hungary, where a wave of gas-to-heat-pump retrofits is underway, driven by rising energy prices and EU-backed subsidy programmes. Poorly designed systems not only underperform but can also undermine public confidence in the technology.

The researchers call for a closer collaboration model between manufacturers, installers, and end users. Better design tools and open data sharing could be the key to unlocking the full climate and economic potential of heat pump technology across Europe.