Gulf Construction Online - Daikin pumped up by European directive

UAE Focus

Daikin pumped up by European directive

01 March 2009

DAIKIN’S air, ground and water source heat pumps have been given a major boost by the European Parliament’s recent directive regarding the use of energy from renewable sources.

For the first time, besides geothermal energy, aerothermal and hydrothermal energies have been recognised as renewable energy sources.
Heat pumps can be used for both cooling and heating applications, and are already popular in Europe,” says a spokesman for Daikin, a leader in air-conditioning technology. “The urgency of the EU’s 20/20/20 objectives – reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption by 20 per cent and increasing the share of renewable energy by 20 per cent, all by 2020 – and the fact that heat pumps can contribute directly to meeting these ambitious objectives, present a major opportunity for heat pumps,” he adds.
With 60 years of experience in heat pumps, Daikin is confident it can contribute to help meet these 20/20/20 objectives and plans to step up efforts to make its heat pumps even more energy-efficient.
Commenting on the directive, Ola Sadeq from Daikin McQuay Middle East Office says: “Our activities support all related technologies in order to achieve the EU’s energy objectives based on the right use of energy from renewable sources as well as enhance awareness concerning heat pumps in the region.”
With the recognition by the EU of the outside air, ground and water (surface, lake or well) as renewable energy sources, much is expected of the member states’ promotion of heat pump technologies using these renewable energy sources.
The directive implies that member states should promote heat pumps as they have been doing for the promotion of solar energy or wind energy.
Although the share of heat pumps in the heating market has not yet reached double digit figures, its potential and the incentive programmes to be expected following the adoption of the EU directive will undoubtedly lead to increased market share, it adds.