High‑Temperature Innovation for a Net‑Zero Industry: HPT Team Share Expertise at Key Events
Researchers from HPT’s energy systems and high temperature heat pump team recently shared their expertise at recent key European events focused on accelerating industrial decarbonization. The team contributed technical insights in Seville during the COMHPTES General Assembly Meeting and the Seville Forum on Machinery for Decarbonization, before moving on to the High Temperature Heat Pump Symposium in Copenhagen. Across these events, HPT researchers engaged with international partners, exchanged knowledge on flexible high temperature heat pump technologies, and showcased ongoing work on supercritical CO₂ based systems for clean and efficient industrial heat.
Accelerating Innovation at COMHPTES General Assembly in Seville
The first stop for the team was Seville, where the COMHPTES project consortium gathered for its 3rd General Assembly Meeting, hosted by Build to Zero and Universidad de Sevilla, on the 19th of January 2026. During the meeting, HPT researchers took part in discussions on:
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Ongoing testing of the Synchrostor compressor and expander operating with supercritical CO₂.
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Technical pathways for system integration and next‑phase development.
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Approaches to industrial demonstration for high‑temperature heat pump technologies.
These exchanges underscored the project’s collaborative effort to advance flexible, CO₂‑based heat pump solutions.
Engaging with Industry at the Seville Forum on Machinery for Decarbonization
While in Seville, the team also participated in the Seville Forum on Machinery for Decarbonization – a gathering focused on machinery innovations driving large scale energy transitions. Speakers and experts addressed topics such as:
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New approaches to centrifugal compressor design for hydrogen.
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CO₂ heat pump applications for high‑temperature industrial processes.
The forum provided valuable context on how electrified machinery and advanced heat pump technologies can support Europe’s broader decarbonization strategy.
Fuelling new perspectives at the High‑Temperature Heat Pump Symposium
Following their visit to Seville, the researchers joined the 2026 High‑Temperature Heat Pump Symposium in Copenhagen, hosted by the Danish Technological Institute, SINTEF, and DTU Construct on the 21st and 22nd of January 2026 . The event brought together industrial suppliers and academic partners working on heat pumps capable of delivering temperatures above 150–200°C using natural refrigerants.
HPT researchers contributed with a poster session facilitated by Davide Balzarini , sharing recent findings on the integration of high‑temperature Stirling heat pumps for food‑industry steam production. Their study explored the techno-economic performance of integrating high-temperature non-toxic helium-operated Stirling heat pumps in milk powder spray drying processes. The study compared the Stirling heat pumps to conventional boilers fuelled by natural gas, oil, biomass, and electricity, focusing on case studies in Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. The results showed that Stirling heat pumps can reduce the levelized cost of heat by up to 60% across these markets, while cutting emissions by more than 50% compared to fossil fuel-based technologies.
In addition to the technical presentations, the researchers engaged with manufacturers and technology developers, with KTH being featured at Enerin’s booth as a project partner.
These events highlighted the growing role of flexible high temperature heat pumps and CO₂ based thermal technologies in Europe’s decarbonization efforts. By sharing expertise, contributing research findings, and collaborating with international partners, the KTH HPT team continues to support the development of efficient, climate friendly solutions for industrial heat.
👉 For more information about ongoing research or collaboration opportunities in flexible high-temperature heat pump systems, contact our team:
