A new European Union funded initiative is set to transform the way industry produces heat by placing geothermal energy at the centre of large scale heat pump solutions.
The HP4INDUSTRY project aims to significantly cut emissions from industrial heating and cooling by advancing standardised heat pump systems powered by geothermal resources, alongside other renewable and recovered heat sources, for low and medium temperature processes.
Industrial heat remains one of the most challenging areas to decarbonise. Many existing heat pump systems are designed as custom made installations, which drives up costs, increases complexity and limits widespread adoption. HP4INDUSTRY is tackling this issue by developing replicable geothermal based heat pump solutions that are easier to deploy, more affordable and capable of delivering consistent emissions reductions across multiple industrial sites.
The project officially began with a launch meeting in Brussels on 20 January 2026 and will run for three years. During this time, partners will collaborate to design, test and validate geothermal heat pump solutions under real industrial conditions. The goal is to help energy intensive sectors reduce fossil fuel use while maintaining competitiveness and long term resilience. New business models will also be developed to ensure these solutions can be scaled across Europe.
Philippe Dumas, Secretary General of the European Geothermal Energy Council and HP4INDUSTRY Project Coordinator said, “Energy security, affordability and competitiveness are at the heart of today’s policy-making, and industrial heat pumps deliver on all three. By bringing together clean tech providers with end users, HP4INDUSTRY aims to generate new business partnerships and help to increase the take-up of heat pump solutions”.
Geothermal energy plays a crucial role in the project because of its reliability and ability to deliver stable heat independent of weather conditions. This makes it particularly suitable for industrial processes in sectors such as pulp and paper, food and beverage and chemicals, where continuous low and medium temperature heat demand is high.
HP4INDUSTRY follows a three stage approach, starting with an in depth assessment of industrial heating needs and geothermal heat upgrade potential. This will be followed by the development and validation of standard geothermal heat pump systems, before moving into replication and market uptake across Europe.
Funded under the EU LIFE Programme, the project brings together leading geothermal, heat pump and industrial experts. By closing the gap between technology providers and industrial users, HP4INDUSTRY aims to accelerate the role of geothermal heat in Europe’s clean energy transition and support a more sustainable industrial future.