CO₂ heat pumps use energy from the environment to generate heat. Non-flammable carbon dioxide is an exceptionally eco-friendly refrigerant, so CO₂ heat pumps can considerably reduce harmful emissions. CO₂ is also an excellent refrigerant because it is not flammable and there is an abundance of it on earth. But how does a CO₂ high-temperature heat pump actually work? And what areas is the technology suitable for? In the following section we outline the operating principle of the CO₂ heat pump and explain the areas it is most suitable for.

How does a heat pump work?

The fundamental principle of heat pumps is to absorb heat at low temperature levels and dispense it as useful heat at a higher temperature. A heat pump uses heat sources that are normally technically not usable. For instance, a high-temperature heat pump can increase the temperature of geothermal energy from 10 °C to 90° C. In addition to geothermal energy, it can utilise surface water and seasonal heat stores as heat sources.

Commercial CO2 Heat Pump Water Heaters use waste heat and convert it into useful heat

But a CO₂ high-temperature heat pump only lives up to its full potential in terms of performance and sustainability when it converts waste heat from industrial production, exhaust air from air-conditioning systems, or waste heat from chillers and then makes it available as heat output at a higher temperature level. Because it optimises such processes, using a heat pump generates significant energy savings.