Large-scale heat pumps, also known as XXL heat pumps, are being used to heat entire city districts, providing a key solution to decarbonizing societies and economies. The city of Esbjerg, Denmark, is a pioneer in this field, with two industrial-size heat pumps that extract heat from seawater and provide 280,000 MWh of carbon-free heat annually. The heat pumps use CO2 as a natural refrigerant and have a combined heating capacity of 70 MW. Similar projects are being implemented in Germany, with large heat pumps being built in cities such as Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Berlin. These mega-scale systems can operate flexibly, balancing the electrical grid and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources. Experts agree that heat pumps are critical to decarbonizing heat generation, and large-scale heat pumps can replace a significant proportion of fossil gas used in district heating. With state assistance and technological innovation, the roll-out of large-scale heat pumps can help Germany and the EU achieve their climate targets.
A massive heat pump system in Denmark is set to warm approximately 25,000 households utilizing seawater as its heat source.
