For generations, natural gas has provided cheap heat in the Netherlands. In 2021, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, 92% of Netherlands homes were heated with gas, making it the only country in Europe where the proportion of homes connected to gas exceeds that of the UK. But facing soaring gas prices and supply shortages and carrying the ambition to accomplish carbon neutrality, the Netherlands aims to phase out gas and seek clean energy usage in heating sections. And heat pumps stand out to be the core alternative.
Why Heat Pumps Become the Main Heating Alternative?
Heat pumps work like air conditioners in reverse, transferring the heat from free air to indoors via a refrigerant flowing through an internal loop. The heat can be released in the house to different ends, such as radiators, underfloor heating, fan coils, or domestic hot water pipes in the home. For well-insulated households and uneasily connectable to a wider heat grid, an individual heat pump might be the better choice for heating.
Compared with natural gas or other fossil fuels, heat pumps using outside air heat as the main energy source will be at least 3 times more energy-efficient, as the thermal energy from the air always exists and is free. In other words, the energy bills are less accordingly.
Netherlands Continues to Subsidy Heat Pump in 2023
The Netherlands market will face the biggest challenge of replacing conventional gas heating with renewable energy heating since the Dutch Cabinet has released the ban that homeowners will have to install at least one hybrid heat pump from 2026 when replacing their central heating system, a fully electric heat pump, or connection to the heat network.
However, the good news is that the Netherlands offers grants for retrofit installations, of up to €3,750 for air-source heat pumps and €3,000 for hybrid heat pumps. There were 70,000 heat pumps installed in new buildings and around 40,000 in existing homes in 2022, the Dutch heat pump market experienced a 57% growth compared to 2021. So further step in 2023, the subsidies have been extended beyond systems with 70 kW heating capacity to a maximum of 400 kW.
KEYMARK Certification: Recognised in Netherlands
In the face of more and more heat pumps entering the Netherlands market, well-tested and qualified heat pump products are important for long-term heat pump deployment. The Netherlands accepts KEYMARK certification for getting a subsidy from January 2023, an additional step in the accomplishment of the NET-ZERO goal across Europe.
(Source: keymark.eu)
KEYMARK approval first means that the manufacturer has passed through strict inspections of the production base site, capacity, testing qualification, and product safety that are in compliance with European Standards.
NEW ENERGY has obtained KEYMARK certifications for heating and cooling heat pumps that provide space heating, cooling, and domestic hot water with low energy bills and fewer carbon footprints. Moreover, due to its high efficiency, the heat pump reaches the top energy rating of A+++ and also obtains the official ErP report.
For more info, please check on www.newntide.com.