Investigations into GSHP Development in France

Abstract

At the beginning of 1980s ground water heat pumps were being developed for both the individual houses and small groups. It has been a major failure which resulted from the fall in energy prices, and a bad perception of heat pumps due to a too fast development, based only on energy cost and poor quality of machines and fitters, that led to many breakdowns and poor quality of heating

Current objectives to reduce greenhouses gases combined with uncertainties in fossil fuel are now restarting the Heat Pumps market in France.

Since 1997, on the impulsion of EDF, supported by ADEME and BRGM, the heat pump industry has taken a new start.

Market growth has intensified since 2005; this market attracts new contributors because of very strong demand that sometimes is difficult to fulfil by existing actors

In this context, the goal is to have a controlled development of the market, based on quality.

This paper considers the tools set up in France for promoting, accompanying and to secure the Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) market: organization of the heat-pump sector, implementation of a quality policy, technical support, financial support, communication and information, research activities.