Europe is on a fast track to sustainable electric heating

Monday, 28 March 2022

Electricity is set to become increasingly important.

As Europe moves towards climate neutrality by 2050, demand for electricity is forecast to grow to 30% in 2030 and to reach 50% by 2050.

The European Commission is aiming for 84 percent of electricity demand to come from renewable energy sources by 2050 which will significantly decrease CO2 emissions. This is where electric underfloor heating comes in, with the Commission aiming for 40% of residential heating to be sourced from electricity by 2030, rising to at least 50 and up to 70 percent by 2050.

Electric underfloor heating is also set to become cheaper for consumers than traditional gas, liquid and solid fuel technology.

Attempts to boost energy efficiency in buildings come via insulation, and also on-site production of renewable electricity. Several electricity-based space-saving heating technologies will support this transition, including electric underfloor heating.

In fact, new research shows that electric underfloor heating in combination with PV is the most cost-efficient heating solution when it comes to highly insulated residential buildings.

New data also shows that every year another 1.2 million new homes are built which are suited to electric underfloor heating. Between 2016 and 2019, this would have amounted to 5.4 million homes.

Electric underfloor heating is a major opportunity for Europe. This can play a significant role in helping Europe reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency in buildings, and ultimately enable Europe to meet its ambitious climate targets.

To put this vision into reality, we need ambitious targets for renewable energy. A lower primary energy factor to ensure that conditionality for public funding for heating retrofitting are technology neutral between electric heating solutions and promote on-site, small scale renewable energy generation.

Let’s put Europe on a fast track to sustainable electric heating.

Watch the video prepared by the Electric Underfloor Heating Alliance (EUHA). The organisation unites manufacturers to promote the interests of the product sector within a new electrified smart grid infrastructure.

Watch video