Heat pump potential in Innsbruck

Analysis of the potential of decentralised heat pumps to meet heating demand in Innsbruck outside the district heating area

Auftraggeber

Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe AG

Laufzeit December  2025 – March 2026

Background

The project addresses the question of how much of Innsbruck’s heating demand outside the district heating network can be met by heat pumps. The aim is to make reliable statements about the proportion of current and projected future heating demand that can be met using decentralised heat pump systems.

Goals and Results

This study analyses various potential heat sources for operating heat pumps. These include air, water, geothermal energy, waste heat, solar thermal energy and energy from the sewer system. Each source is evaluated in terms of its technical and economic feasibility.
Other key issues addressed by the project include grid compatibility and the existing electricity infrastructure, the seasonal efficiency of the systems, and aspects of security of supply. In addition, the current funding landscape and the economic viability of the respective solutions are examined in detail. A particular focus is placed on the use of industrial waste heat and the possibilities for sector coupling.
In addition, topics such as land availability, approval processes, social and ecological impacts, and the development of various scenarios up to the year 2045 are being examined. The aim is to develop a comprehensive picture of the potential, challenges and possible solutions for the use of heat pumps outside the district heating expansion area in Innsbruck.

Tasks of IREES

  • Technological and economic description

  • analysis of innovative heat pump technologies

  • identification of waste heat sources outside the district heating area

  • legal and local framework conditions for heat pump promotion

  • economic evaluation and scenario development for calculating feasible market potential

  • evaluation of grid availability and electricity infrastructure

  • social and ecological evaluation

Project Partner

  • e-think energy research GmbH

CONTACT

Jan Steinbach
Jan Steinbach