・Replacing just 7% of EU boilers with heat pumps would eliminate the need for all Russian gas used in home heating.
・The plan would save 13 billion cubic metres of gas — the equivalent of current Russian imports for residential use.
・Heat pumps are up to 5x more efficient than fossil fuel boilers and already saved 24 bcm of gas in 2024.
・A wider rollout could save the EU €60 billion by 2030 by slashing fossil fuel imports.
・Industry leaders and policymakers call for a clear EU strategy and stable regulations to ramp up deployment.
Just 7% of EU homes switching to heat pumps could erase the bloc’s dependence on Russian gas for heating
Ditching Russian Gas: Europe Eyes 14 Million New Heat Pumps to Secure Energy Independence
In a powerful move to bolster energy security and slash fossil fuel dependency, the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) announced that installing 14 million additional heat pumps across the EU could entirely eliminate the bloc’s reliance on Russian gas for residential space and water heating.
Currently, 51.7 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas are imported annually from Russia, nearly 13 bcm of which fuels household heating. Replacing fossil fuel boilers in just 7% of EU homes — around 14 million residences — would offset this entire figure, EHPA reports.
The switch is not just about geopolitics. With heat pumps already avoiding 24 bcm of gas in 2024, these devices are proving to be the energy-efficient, climate-smart choice. They use electricity instead of burning gas directly, often delivering five times more heating energy per unit of electricity than conventional boilers.
Paul Kenny, EHPA’s Director General, underscored the urgency:
“Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels puts citizens at the mercy of unreliable suppliers and erratic prices. We must shift to strategic energy security via sustainable, secure, efficient, home-grown heating solutions.”
Backing this vision, MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin stressed that the transition is not just environmental — it’s strategic:
“Accelerating the electrification of heating is vital to reduce our dependence on Russian gas and build a more secure and affordable energy system.”
Industry leaders like Vaillant and analysts at the International Energy Agency (IEA) echoed the call, noting that heat pumps already account for a 10% reduction in Europe’s overall gas demand since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Yet, hitting the EU’s 2030 target of 60 million heat pumps demands a massive scaling effort — nearly doubling the current 26 million units in use. EHPA calls for unwavering support from governments to roll out EU Green Deal policies, particularly the upcoming Emissions Trading System 2, which could unlock €65 billion through the Social Climate Fund for heat pump deployment.
As Europe gears up for the Future of Energy Security Summit in London this April, the message is clear:
Heat pumps are more than just a clean tech solution — they’re a cornerstone of Europe’s energy independence.