Victoria and New South Wales have joined forces with industry to improve the development of heat pump technology.
The funding follows the release of an industry-led report entitled Roadmap for Heat Pump Hot Water Systems in Australia.
Released by the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), the report provides industry and governments a path forward to scale-up the heat pump hot water market.
The roadmap includes 17 recommended actions including revising standards, end-of-life stewardship, industry training, product quality, consumer protections, minimum energy performance standards, and auditing of installations.
In the last 12 months, the uptake of heat pumps in both states has been significant, with more than 104,000 installations across both states.
Installations have been driven by the Victorian Solar Homes Program and the NSW Energy Savings Scheme.
In Australia, water heating is a major source of household energy, accounting for around 23 per cent of a home’s total energy use.
By replacing a gas hot water system with a quality heat pump hot water system, consumers are estimated to save up to $250 per year, on top of additional savings in going all-electric.
To progress the recommendations, both governments will progress a key recommendation to develop a consultation group of industry representatives to support and oversee the development of systems and standards.
Beyond the Roadmap, both governments advocated to urgently progress minimum energy performance standards at the recent Energy and Climate Minister’s Council meeting. Ministers endorsed this key recommendation from the roadmap.
Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, Lily D’Ambrosia, commended industry on its leadership and for recognising heat pumps are a key technology that is growing in popularity.
NSW Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe, said the goal is to ensure every Australian has access to cleaner and cheaper energy.
For more information and to download the Roadmap, visit the EEC website at eec.org.au.