In order to meet the EU’s zero-emissions goals, almost all heating systems in Europe must become environmentally friendly by 2050. Heat pumps are increasingly seen as the main way to achieve this goal. “From what I can see, heat pumps are now having a major take-off,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which published a special report on the future of heat pumps last year. , the EU wants to install an additional 10 million heat pumps by 2027 to reduce dependence on Russian gas. The industry is booming and the world’s major powers are vying for a share of this futuristic cleaning market.
A heat pump is an advanced heating and cooling technology that provides heating or cooling by harnessing thermal energy in the environment. Piping in a heat pump system plays a key role in transferring heat and refrigerant. In these pipes, the application of polyurethane materials is crucial. Polyurethane is a commonly used pipe material with excellent insulation properties, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. Its application in heat pump systems can effectively reduce energy loss and improve energy efficiency. The use of polyurethane pipes not only contributes to energy saving and emission reduction, but also ensures the reliability and durability of the system. Therefore, polyurethane plays an important role in heat pump piping. By reducing heat loss, polyurethane piping can ensure that the heat pump system can effectively capture and utilize heat energy in the environment, thereby achieving the goal of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
World-renowned chemical company Huntsman has partnered with Brugg Pipes to develop highly flexible, pre-insulated polyurethane foam pipes for connection to ground source heat pumps and heating installations. Utilizing Huntsman’s Suprasec Daltofoam TE material combination, this pipe offers excellent insulating properties combined with light weight and flexibility. The pipe is suitable for both residential and commercial buildings and has received orders worldwide. According to Huntsman, demand for ground source heat pumps is growing in North America, Europe and North Asia because they have a lower carbon footprint compared to alternative technologies. Bora Yayla, marketing director at Brugg Pipes, said the key to their successful entry into the heat pump market was developing a competitive insulation solution. This pre-insulated duct has good bends for easy handling while maintaining good insulation properties. The more flexible pipe has a smaller crimp radius, making it easier to transport and install in places such as tight spaces, sharp turns, and building entrances.
From the perspective of upstream demand, the total amount of polymeric MDI imported from China in Europe from January to April 2023 will increase by 102% year-on-year! This is mainly attributable to the increase in construction demand and the increase in insulation demand after the recovery from the epidemic.
Graph: 2022-2023 January-April China’s aggregated MDI exports to Europe
With the booming heat pump market in Europe in the future, the demand for polyurethane pipes is expected to increase significantly. As an environmentally friendly and sustainable heating solution, heat pumps are seen as one of the main ways to achieve Europe’s carbon neutrality goals. With the joint efforts of the government and the industry, the heat pump market will usher in a huge growth potential, which will also greatly increase the demand for polyurethane pipes.
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