Heat pumps are one of the key solutions for reaching EU decarbonisation goals. Our case study shows that a Daikin heat pump is 2-24 times less carbon intensive, helping to save from 0.2 to 2 tons of CO2-equivalent (C02-eq is the standard metric measure to compare the global warming potential of various greenhouse gases) during the use phase every year (depending on the emission factor - EF - of each country’s electricity grid).
The role of heat pumps in decarbonisation
Heat pumps are vital for the EU’s decarbonisation, offering a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating solution compared to traditional fossil fuel-based systems. The European Heat Pump Market and Statistics Report 2023 highlights that the heat pump stock in 2022 alone contributed to a reduction of 52.52 Mt of greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, adopting heat pumps instead of conventional boilers and furnaces could reduce annual CO2 emissions by 3 gigatons.
Support for EU regulations
Heat pumps are key to the EU’s clean energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. According to a 2022 report from the International Energy Agency, heat pumps could reduce Europe’s gas demand for building heating by at least 21 billion cubic metres by 2030. The EU Heat Pump Action Plan aims to install at least 10 million additional heat pumps by 2027, supported by various EU policy initiatives like the Renovation Wave Strategy, Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
Life cycle assessment (LCA) of heat pumps
To understand the carbon footprint benefits of heat pumps compared to gas-powered heating technologies, it is essential to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA). An LCA evaluates a product’s full life cycle—from resource extraction to production, use, recycling, and disposal—providing a comprehensive view of its environmental impact.
Since 2021, Daikin has conducted cradle-to-grave LCAs for heat pump products, assessing their environmental impacts from manufacturing to disposal. Daikin's LCA is verified by an independent third party and presented as an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which offers an independently verified summary of a product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle. There are two main types of EPDs: industry-wide and product-specific. EPDs are increasingly mandated by national regulations.
Case study: Carbon footprint of Daikin heat pumps vs. gas boilers
This case study compares the Daikin Altherma 3 R 180L (an air-to-water heat pump) with a highly efficient gas boiler (90% efficiency).
Whole life carbon
Whole life carbon (WLC) refers to the total carbon footprint of a product throughout its existence, encompassing both operational and embodied carbon. The total global warming potential (GWP) of a Daikin heat pump is nearly eight times lower than that of a gas boiler.
Operational carbon
Operational carbon emissions are those associated with the ongoing use of a product (the use phase). In this study, operational emissions from the gas boiler are almost ten times higher than those from the heat pump. The energy usage was calculated for France.
Embodied carbon
Embodied carbon refers to the emissions produced during the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance, repair, and disposal stages of a product or building. The Daikin heat pump has a higher embodied carbon compared to the gas boiler, primarily due to higher emissions during the manufacturing and disposal stages.
Heat pumps result in significantly lower CO2 emissions
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump can result in significant CO2 emission reductions in typical single-family homes across European countries. The carbon footprint variations of the heat pump during its use phase were measured in different countries for a typical medium-sized household of 10.000 kWh annual energy consumption - representative of the new build market.
In Spain, the following results were found: a Daikin heat pump saves 1,852 kg of CO2 annually and is six times more carbon-efficient than a gas boiler.
Yearly emissions from the use of heat pumps are 2-24 times lower than emissions from gas boiler providing the same air and water heating and cooling for the household in all the countries studied. Since the EF of electricity is only expected to decrease within the near and long-term future due to the investments in renewable energy by the EU and UK, heat pumps will also continue to have less use phase emissions, therefore, helping them to achieve their climate goals.
In conclusion, heat pumps are a ready-to-use climate-positive solution with far-reaching environmental benefits compared to traditional gas boilers.