Heat Pumps: Working Principle, Classification, and Regulatory Restrictions by 2026
Heat pumps are consolidating as the central technology for building electrification and decarbonization. From 1 January 2026, EU Regulation 2024/573 restricts the use of fluorinated refrigerants with GWP ≥ 2500 for servicing and maintenance of such equipment. AFEC President Francisco Perucho emphasizes that overall efficiency is determined not by the characteristics of a single unit but by the design of the entire installation, building loads, and installation quality.
