Review of the Role of Heat Pumps in Decarbonization of the Building Sector

Agnieszka Żelazna and Artur Pawłowski ()
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Agnieszka Żelazna: Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 40B, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Artur Pawłowski: Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 40B, 20-618 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-26

Abstract: The transition to low-carbon heating systems is fundamental to achieving climate neutrality, particularly within the building sector, which accounts for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Among various technologies, heat pumps have emerged as a leading solution due to their high energy efficiency and potential to significantly reduce CO 2 emissions, especially when powered by renewable electricity. This systematic review synthesizes findings from the recent literature, including peer-reviewed studies and industry reports, to evaluate the technical performance, environmental impact, and deployment potential of air source, ground source, and water source heat pumps. This review also investigates life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, the influence of geographical energy mix diversity, and the integration of heat pumps within hybrid and district heating systems. Results indicate that hybrid HP systems achieve the lowest specific GHG emissions (0.108 kgCO 2 eq/kWh of heat delivered on average), followed by WSHPs (0.018 to 0.216 kgCO 2 eq/kWh), GSHPs (0.050–0.211 kgCO 2 eq/kWh), and ASHPs (0.083–0.216 kgCO 2 eq/kWh). HP systems show a potential GHG emission reduction of up to 90%, depending on the kind of technology and energy mix. Despite higher investment costs, the lower environmental footprint of GSHPs and WSHPs makes them attractive options for decarbonizing the building sector due to better performance resulting from more stable thermal input and higher SCOP. The integration of heat pumps with thermal storage, renewable energy, and smart control technologies further enhances their efficiency and climate benefits, regardless of the challenges facing their market potential. This review concludes that heat pumps, particularly in hybrid configurations, are a cornerstone technology for sustainable building heat supply and energy transition.

Keywords: heat supply; heat pumps; ASHP; GSHP; WSHP; decarbonization; carbon dioxide emission; greenhouse gas emission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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