A machine that moves heat from a colder place to a warmer one using the refrigeration cycle, delivering several units of heat for each unit of electricity consumed. Running in one direction it heats buildings and water, in the other it cools them, and because of that multiplying effect energy agencies rank the heat pump as the central technology for decarbonizing building heat.
Facts
Disputed
Invented YearLord Kelvin described the underlying theory in 1852; Peter von Rittinger built the first working heat pump in 1855 to 1857. Classification
MaturityTRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1 Technology Type Connections
Associated With
Large scale heat pumps are increasingly integrated into district heating networks as a low carbon heat source.
Sources
1. Heat pump - Wikipedia
Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25
Air source heat pumps are the most common models, while other types include ground source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, and exhaust air heat pumps.
In Group: Heat Pumps, Lead
A heat pump is a device that uses mechanical or thermal energy to transfer heat from one space to another.
View the Source2. International Energy Agency Official Site
3. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationHistoryQuote, History
Peter von Rittinger develops and builds the first heat pump.
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