Paul Kenny is the Director General of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) and a leading voice in Europe’s heating decarbonisation. A mechanical engineer and former Special Advisor to Ireland’s Minister for Climate, he drives EHPA’s strategy to make heat pumps central to the EU Green Deal. 

In this Expert Talk, Kenny discusses the role of heat pumps in supporting the transition away from fossil fuels in Europe’s buildings and industrial sectors. The discussion explores the main policy, technological, and financial barriers to large-scale deployment, as well as the role of the heat pump value chain, from manufacturing to installation, in creating added value for the European economy and strengthening the internal market. He also reflects on the skills needed for the operation and maintenance of innovative heat pump systems, and whether existing gaps may affect implementation.

The BUILD UP Expert Talks series is an initiative of the BUILD UP portal and features face-to-face interviews with experts from across Europe, offering diverse perspectives on key topics related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings. These interviews align with the Topic of the Month and explore it in depth, providing valuable insights, experiences, and expertise to the BUILD UP audience.