Heat Pump Taxonomy
A common framework for heat pumps classification and data
About this report
Heat pumps are a cornerstone technology for achieving secure, affordable and sustainable heating. Already one of the world’s most common heating technologies, they are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping future energy demand in buildings and beyond.
As deployment accelerates, monitoring the pace of heat pump deployment compared to conventional heating technologies is essential for understanding their implications for energy demand, electricity infrastructure, fuel supply and investment needs.
However, information on heat pump installations, performance and costs remains fragmented across regions because reporting practices vary in scope, definitions and metrics.
The Heat Pump Taxonomy Project, led by the IEA in collaboration with stakeholders from more than 50 institutions, addresses this challenge by developing a common classification framework for heat pumps. The proposed taxonomy focuses initially on heat pumps used as primary heating equipment in buildings, with the potential to expand to other sectors over time. It classifies technologies according to source, sink and product characteristics. A shared taxonomy strengthens the evidence base for policymaking and industry planning, supports cross-country comparability and facilitates international collaboration.
The Heat Pump Taxonomy Technology Explorer offers an accessible, interactive way to explore the different types of heat pumps available in the market, with fact sheets summarising their technical characteristics, major regional markets and applications.
The Heat Pump Taxonomy Technology Explorer
Technical Note on a Proposed Common Heat Pump Taxonomy
The Heat Pump Taxonomy Project was led by the IEA in collaboration with stakeholders from over 50 institutions. Through a series of workshops, technical discussions and two written consultation processes, the group discussed a common heat pump taxonomy, mechanisms to address associated challenges, such as accounting for reversible air-to-air and hybrid systems, and explored approaches for reporting new metrics such as capacity-based data. For a more in-depth view into the proposed taxonomy and the methodology behind it, please refer to the following documents:
The Technical Note, which discusses methodology and analytical rationale underpinning the proposed taxonomy and suggests possible next steps for future work.
The Heat Pump Regional Data Reporting Mapping Matrix: an analytical tool mapping existing reporting practices by product type and how they compare to the suggested taxonomy, highlighting data gaps and opportunities for alignment. (See Cross-regional Data Reporting Mapping Matrix and Cross-regional Data Reporting Terminologies)