HEATReX

How do we reduce the material footprint of heat pumps?

Sales of heat pumps in Belgium rose by a whopping 68% in 2023 compared to 2022. Production is exploding, and so is the use of materials to make all those heat pumps. In living lab HEATReX, a consortium around manufacturer Daikin is investigating how this footprint can be reduced: by repairing, remaking and reusing heat pumps and their components.

Environmental impact of heat pumps
In 2023, the Dutch National Environmental Database calculated the environmental impact of materials in heat pumps in the full life cycle, from production to waste disposal. That impact turned out to be higher than expected. And so far, there are few insights into circular strategies. The consortium is changing this with the living lab HEATReX.

Working together for accelerated breakthroughs
In HEATReX, Flanders Make, heat pump manufacturer Daikin, installer Climatronix and the technology industry centre Sirris are joining forces to reduce the material footprint of heat pumps. The name HEATReX stands for Higher wOrth conservation of heat pumps by ReX. 'ReX' in turn refers to re-use, repair, remanufacture and refurbish. The partners are testing which strategies are feasible and affordable. They do this not only for themselves. They invite other companies and value chains to think along and share their lessons learned with similar companies in the Flemish manufacturing industry.

About 'Living labs circular economy'
Flanders wants to drastically reduce its materials footprint and greenhouse emissions by 2030 and is fully committed to an accelerated transition to the circular economy. Through the living labs, the Flemish government supports circular projects in the manufacturing industry, around, for example, less consumption of raw materials, reuse of materials and repurposing of parts.