Advances in Heat Pump Technologies for Energy Efficiency Enhancement and Decarbonization

Dear Colleagues,

The building and industrial sectors are among the largest energy consumers and contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. As the world accelerates its transition toward low-carbon and energy-efficient solutions, heat pump technologies have emerged as a key enabler for decarbonizing heating, cooling, and hot water production across residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Recent advancements in refrigerants, system integration, control strategies, and hybrid renewable energy systems have enhanced the efficiency and environmental sustainability of heat pumps. Innovations in thermodynamic cycles, advanced materials, and digital optimization techniques are further enhancing their performance, reliability, and adaptability to diverse climate conditions and operational demands.

However, critical challenges remain, including cost-effectiveness, scalability for large-scale and industrial use, integration with district energy networks, and the adoption of next-generation low-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants. Additionally, the potential of heat pumps in high-temperature industrial processes (e.g., manufacturing, food processing, chemical industries) and their synergies with thermal storage and smart grid interaction require further exploration to unlock their full decarbonization potential.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the latest research on heat pump technologies that advance energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions in both building and industrial processes. We welcome original theoretical, experimental, and numerical studies on the design, optimization, and application of heat pump systems, as well as analyses of their role in net-zero energy systems, industrial electrification, and renewable energy integration.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• High-efficiency heat pump cycles for space heating, cooling, and hot water production;
• Heat pumps for industrial applications, including high-temperature heating and waste heat recovery;
• Integration of heat pumps with district heating and cooling networks;
• Hybrid heat pump systems with renewable energy sources (solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery);
• Development and application of low-GWP and natural refrigerants;
• Advanced control strategies and AI-driven optimization for heat pump performance enhancement;
• Performance evaluation, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis of heat pump systems;
• Heat pumps for nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB), smart energy systems, and industrial decarbonization;
• Compact, modular, and scalable heat pump designs for urban and industrial applications;
• Thermodynamic modelling and experimental validation of novel heat pump configurations;
• Integration of thermal storage solutions and heat pumps for enhanced demand flexibility and grid interaction;
• Design and optimization of heat pump components for enhanced reliability and efficiency.

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Bourouis
Prof. Dr. Carlos Amaris
Guest Editors

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