Europe saved €9.7 billion in energy import costs in 2025, with its heat pumps generating enough heat to equal twice the amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) the EU imported from the Middle East, according to the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).
Europe's heat pumps provide as much heat as the LNG carried by over 200 tankers, the association's new analysis showed.
"This is double the amount which arrived in the EU in 2025 from the Middle East, and around 7% of the EU’s total annual imported LNG," it said.
According to the 2026 market report, heat pump sales rose 13% year-on-year to 2.9 million units in 2025.
With these new installations, Europe's total heat pump stock increased to 29.3 million units.
The report noted that the 2.9 million heat pumps installed last year alone replaced the need for 2.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG, equivalent to roughly 24% of the EU's gas imports from the Middle East.
- Germany and France lead market
Country-level data showed that Germany recorded the fastest growth in 2025, with heat pump sales increasing by 50%.
For the first time, heat pumps accounted for 50% of Germany's national heating market, setting a new record. Denmark also posted strong growth, with sales rising 36%.
France ranked first in terms of annual sales, with 528,000 units sold, followed by Italy with 423,000 units.
France also led in total installed stock, with 7 million heat pumps in operation, while Italy ranked second with nearly 5 million units.
In terms of sales per 1,000 households, Lithuania led with 46 units, followed by Norway with 43. Norway and Finland remained Europe's most heat pump-intensive markets, with 650 and 540 units per 1,000 households, respectively.
The report's figures cover 18 core markets, as well as Ireland, Hungary and Estonia, whose data were assumed to remain unchanged. When nine additional countries, including Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, which are not yet included in the main statistics, are taken into account, total sales in 2025 are estimated to have reached as high as 3.1 million units.
- Heat pumps boost Europe's energy security
EHPA Director General Paul Kenny said each newly installed heat pump strengthens Europe's energy security.
Noting that LNG is among the most expensive energy sources and that suppliers are not always reliable, Kenny said the latest data show Europeans are moving rapidly away from fossil fuel-based heating.
Under the European Commission's electrification package, expected to be released in July, member states are likely to face pressure to reduce taxes and value-added tax (VAT) rates on electricity and heat pumps.
In its report, EHPA stressed that making the technology more affordable will be critical to strengthening the EU's energy independence.
By Humeyra Ayaz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
