IPN HyTemp aims to develop an innovative high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) for industrial applications, based on a reversed Stirling cycle using hydrogen (H₂) as the working fluid. The main objective is to demonstrate the technology at TRL 5 and establish technical, safety-related, and commercial maturity for use in industrial process heat applications up to 250 °C. By replacing helium with hydrogen, the technology enables significantly higher (3x) heat output per unit, lower investment costs (-50%), and a smaller footprint compared to conventional solutions — which is crucial for installation in space-constrained industrial facilities.
Industrial process heat accounts for a large share of Europe’s energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Conventional heat production technologies based on fossil fuels have low energy efficiency and high greenhouse gas emissions. High-temperature heat pumps are a key technology for industrial decarbonisation and energy efficiency improvements.
The project’s research and development activities are structured around five main areas, which together aim to ensure the technological, safety-related, and commercial maturity of the HyTemp technology.
Technology optimisation includes advanced modelling and simulation of the hydrogen-based Stirling cycle (H₂), including CFD analyses of key components to improve, among other things, heat transfer and overall system performance.
Material compatibility is addressed through screening and testing of relevant alloys exposed to hydrogen under high pressure and temperature, with the aim of identifying robust alloys suitable for long-term operation.
Key safety requirements are addressed through risk analyses and the development of guidelines for the safe integration and operation of hydrogen-based high-temperature heat pumps in industrial environments.
System design and demonstration include the development and testing of a laboratory-scale HTHP prototype, while market studies and upscaling focus on techno-economic analyses and case studies for industrial integration and further scale-up.
