Study questioning environmental benefits of heat pumps draws criticism

A study showing that the environmental impact of heat pumps is equal to that of gas boilers has been met with criticism by several experts, writes De Standaard.

A recent PhD study at the University of Ghent found that when the impact of the materials used in the manufacture of heat pumps is taken into account, they have a comparable environmental impact to gas condensing boilers. Several other energy experts have questioned this conclusion.

"In the fight against climate change, we cannot afford to have doubts cast on the importance of heat pumps"

The study "unfairly" portrays heat pumps in a negative light, said Nathalie Devriendt, director of the Organisation for Sustainable Energy. "In the fight against climate change, we cannot afford to have doubts cast on the importance of heat pumps," Devriendt told De Standaard.

Devriendt argues that the study used outdated figures and wrong assumptions, underestimating the efficiency of heat pumps. According to her, heat pump technology has developed significantly and continues to improve.

Key to reducing climate impact

For Bram Claeys, senior consultant at the NGO Regulatory Assistance Project, heat pumps are part of the key to reducing the climate impact of heating buildings. While it is good to look critically at the overall environmental impact, the study is too much of a snapshot to draw conclusions for the future, he argues.

"The reality is that a heat pump in operation today emits up to half as much CO2 as a comparable gas boiler"

For Ruben Baetens, director of the Institute for Energy and Society at KU Leuven, the most important question is how much a heating system reduces CO2 emissions over its lifetime. "The reality is that a heat pump in operation today emits up to half as much CO2 as a comparable gas boiler," he told De Standaard.

"It is clear that there is room for improvement in the production of heat pumps. But the solution is not to install fewer heat pumps. We need to solve the problems on site in mines or factories and design even better products," said Baetens.

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