CCN hosted a roundtable during ARBS week in Sydney dealing with the challenges of global heat pump deployment.
It began with general discussion about the latest innovations, market trends, and environmental implications of heat pump integration before moving on to some of the challenges.
Roundtable participants were able to provide a global perspective representing different parts of the world.
Participants included Russell Patten, director general of the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), Steve Yurek, president of the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) in the United States, Mark Padwick, general manager of Wilson Heat Pumps and Stuart Kirkwood, ANZ district leader for Trane Technologies.
Discussion began with participants defining heat pump technologies as they are used for different applications around the globe. For example, in Australia the focus was on heating and hot water.
Participants examined quality control and how this applies to current rebate schemes. The discussion addressed standards, energy efficiency and the need to increase market education.
Issues varied in different parts of the world and participants shared ideas on how to address many of these challenges.
Safety, training and licensing were also covered as everyone deals with the need to upskill the RAC workforce. Another challenge was refrigerants and the need to train installers in the use of hydrocarbons.
Participants also talked about the refrigerant transition to net zero.
The roundtable will be published in August in a series of videos that will be available online.
A 10-page report will be featured in the September edition of CCN magazine.
The event was jointly sponsored by Refrigerants Australia and Refrigerant Reclaim Australia.