The Role of Very High Temperature Heat Pumps in Industrial Decarbonisation

As the industrial sector accelerates its transition to net zero, steam generation remains one of the most energy-intensive and carbon-heavy processes. For breweries, food manufacturers and other heat-reliant industries, the challenge is clear: how do you decarbonise steam without compromising performance or cost?

One emerging answer is Very High Temperature Heat Pumps (VHTHP), a new class of low-carbon technology that’s gaining attention for its potential to deliver steam without fossil fuels and with greater efficiency than direct electrification.

VHTHP’s are an innovative evolution of traditional heat pumps. They extract heat from the environment air, water or waste heat and compress it to generate temperatures high enough for industrial steam. The result? You get more heat out than you put in, thanks to the Coefficient of Performance (COP), a key metric that measures heat pump efficiency.

Unlike conventional electric boilers, which convert electricity directly into heat, VHTHP’s multiply the thermal output. This makes them significantly more energy-efficient and a compelling option for reducing both carbon emissions and operating costs.

The market for VHTHP’s is moving fast. New suppliers are entering the space, and the technology is evolving rapidly. But with innovation comes complexity. VHTHP’s are still relatively unproven at scale and reliability can vary. Capital costs are high and integration into existing systems requires careful planning.

Before adopting any new technology, it’s essential to ensure your process and operations are ready. That means making sure you’ve done all the heat recovery possible, have sufficient metering on your VHTHP heat source, and fully understand your current and future steam.

Only then should you turn to the market. Due diligence is critical, therefore it’s important to assess supplier credibility to evaluate how the solution fits into your broader energy and utilities strategy and consider these additional factors before you invest.

• Efficiency vs. Cost: While VHTHP’s offer long-term operational savings, upfront capital costs can be significant. A clear understanding of your CAPEX vs. OPEX trade-offs are essential.
• System Integration: VHTHP’s aren’t plug-and-play. You’ll need to consider how they interact with your existing steam systems, controls and thermal loads.
• Supplier Landscape: With many players entering the market, it’s important to investigate innovation through an agile lens and explore the right solution for your current system inclusive of both new and existing technologies.
• Reliability & Maintenance: As with any new tech, reliability is still being tested. Build in contingency planning and ensure your team is trained to operate and maintain the system effectively.
• Getting to Good: optimising heat recovery, understanding your sites operations including your VHTHP heat source, current & future steam demand.

At Projective, we help clients navigate the complexity of emerging technologies like VHTHP’s. Our engineering teams work closely with manufacturers to assess feasibility, model performance and design tailored integration strategies that align with long-term operational goals.

We don’t just deliver projects, we deliver confidence. Whether you’re exploring VHTHP’s or other low-carbon heat solutions, we’ll help you make informed decisions that balance innovation, compliance and value.

If you’re considering VHTHPs or want to understand how they compare to other decarbonisation options, we’re here to help. We’ll support you in getting VHTHP-ready, ensuring you’ve optimised heat recovery, have the right metering in place and understand your steam demand profile before exploring the wider market. Let’s talk about how Projective can support your journey to low-carbon, high-performance steam.

Simply contact us via our website or email enquiries@projectiveengineering.com.