Graphic: Policy recommendations to drive up heat pump deployment in China

BUILDINGS

Short-term

• Strengthen energy efficiency standards
• Revise and unify labels across heating devices and launch awareness campaigns
• Strengthen upfront cost support for heat pumps

Long-term

• Integrate more stringent performance requirements in regulations for new buildings;to prepare for heat pump adoption
• Support large-scale retrofit packages for existing buildings as part of a co-ordinated heat pump rollout
• Phase out subsidies for fossil fuel-based heating to free up financing for cleaner, more efficient heating solutions

INDUSTRY

Short-term

• Increase awareness and support selection of heat pump solutions
• Promote heat pump research and demonstration projects
• Provide support to overcome installation, operations and maintenance costs

Long-term

• Expand actions to drive waste energy recovery through heat pumps in light industries and district heating
• Introduce heat pumps as a recommended technology choice for decarbonising heating in selected industries

SUPPLY CHAINS

Short-term

• Establish clear criteria for the classification of clean heating
• Set targets to increase sales and deployment of heat pumps
• Promote heat pump rollout in line with expansion of renewable energy

Long-term

• Promote job opportunities and skills in manufacturing, installation, operations and maintenance
• Enhance data oversight to better understand opportunities for heat decarbonisation
• Consider strengthening standards for lifecycle emissions to inform energy efficiency improvements, including considerations around HFCs and the use of alternative refrigerants
• Consider electricity system and demand flexibility implications in future electrification of heating and heat pump deployment