Nishant Karve is an experienced Environmental Research Engineer with deep expertise in the decarbonisation of the HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) sector. His work focuses on addressing the critical safety and technical challenges associated with the transition to low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. Currently, he also serves as the project coordinator for the LIFE project SKILLSAFE-EU.

BUILD UP (BUP): As Europe accelerates the deployment of heat pumps to meet 2030 targets, the shortage of qualified professionals remains a primary barrier. Could you introduce the LIFE SKILLSAFE-EU project and explain its objectives in helping the industry navigate this rapid transition?

NISHANT KARVE (NK): Europe’s heat pump rollout is accelerating under REPowerEU, but the shortage of skilled professionals remains a key barrier. The LIFE SKILLSAFE-EU project addresses this by developing a European-wide safety guideline and training framework for heat pumps using highly flammable refrigerants like R290. It covers the lifecycle, from the factory and installation to servicing and disposal, ensuring installers are properly equipped. By bringing together manufacturers, associations and training bodies, SKILLSAFE-EU aims to upskill and reskill the workforce, improve safety, and support the large-scale transition to low-GWP technologies.

BUP: One of the challenges in the EU is the fragmentation of professional qualifications. How is your work with SKILLSAFE-EU helping to harmonise training standards for HVAC technicians across different Member States, and why is this consistency vital for the heat pump market?

NK: Fragmentation in qualifications across Member States leads to inconsistent skill levels and safety practices. SKILLSAFE-EU addresses this by creating a common European guideline for handling R290-based heat pumps, supported by pilot trainings and country-specific annexes. This helps establish a shared baseline while respecting national contexts. Harmonisation is critical for scaling the market, it improves installer confidence, ensures consistent safety, and allows skills to be recognised across borders. Collaboration with frameworks like Real Alternatives further supports alignment and facilitates broader European recognition of competencies.

‘Harmonisation is critical for scaling the market, it improves installer confidence, ensures consistent safety, and allows skills to be recognised across borders’

BUP: The HVACR sector is undergoing a profound digital and green revolution that redefines the role of the installer. Beyond traditional plumbing and electrical skills, what specific new competencies are essential for the next generation of engineers to manage the entire lifecycle of a heat pump (from leak prevention during operation to sustainable decommissioning), and how is the industry evolving its training to integrate these circular economy principles?

NK: The role of installers is expanding beyond traditional trades. Today’s engineers need competencies in refrigerant risk assessment, leak prevention, safe handling of highly flammable refrigerants, system commissioning, and lifecycle management. Circular economy principles require knowledge of servicing, refrigerant recovery, and end-of-life disposal. Training is evolving to reflect this shift, moving towards blended learning approaches and lifecycle-based guidelines. Initiatives like SKILLSAFE-EU ensure technicians are equipped not only to install systems safely, but to manage their performance and environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle.

BUP: The revised F-Gas Regulation sets a very ambitious timeline for the phase-out of fluorinated gases. From an engineering perspective, what are the most significant design challenges when re-engineering heat pump cycles for natural refrigerants (such as dealing with higher pressures or different thermodynamic properties) while ensuring that seasonal energy efficiency (SCOP) remains high?

NK: Re-engineering heat pumps for natural refrigerants is a system-level challenge. With R290, designers must balance high efficiency with safety, particularly by minimising refrigerant charge and managing the risk of ignition or explosion. At the same time, systems must maintain high seasonal performance across varying climates. For CO₂ systems, challenges include very high operating pressures and performance sensitivity in warmer conditions, requiring advanced control and system optimisation. Overall, the key engineering task is to deliver safe, cost-effective systems with low environmental impact while maintaining strong seasonal performance.

‘With R290, designers must balance high efficiency with safety, particularly by minimising refrigerant charge and managing the risk of ignition or explosion’

BUP: The transition to natural and low-GWP refrigerants often involves handling flammable or high-pressure substances. Could you elaborate on how the SKILLSAFE-EU project is establishing new benchmarks for safety training and certification to ensure the workforce is prepared for this shift?

NK: The transition to low-GWP refrigerants introduces new safety challenges, particularly with highly flammable substances like R290. SKILLSAFE-EU is setting new benchmarks by developing comprehensive safety guidelines, validating them through pilot training, and integrating them into structured training programmes. Importantly, it addresses the entire lifecycle of heat pumps, not just installation. Collaboration with initiatives like Real Alternatives, HeatCraft HP, KnowHowHP, enables wider access, multilingual delivery, and alignment of certification approaches, moving toward recognisable, competence-based training that ensures technicians are fully prepared for real-world applications.

BUP: Looking beyond the immediate deadlines, what are the expected long-term outcomes of the SKILLSAFE-EU project? What is your 'call to action' for European policymakers to better support the vocational training infrastructure needed to ground these ambitious targets in reality?

NK: The long-term impact of SKILLSAFE-EU lies in creating a replicable European model for workforce upskilling in the heat pump sector. It will leave behind harmonised guidelines, validated training approaches, and stronger collaboration across industry and education. However, achieving EU climate targets requires sustained investment in skills. Policymakers must prioritise vocational training, certification systems, and accessible upskilling programmes, especially for SMEs. Regulation alone is not enough; without a skilled workforce, deployment targets cannot be achieved. Skills must be treated as a core pillar of the energy transition.