Snapshots

Heat Pumps Grew Rapidly in Poland in 2022

Amid a surging European heat pump market, Poland experienced the world's fastest growth in heat pumps in 2022. Sales of heat pumps in Poland grew 120% compared to 2021. Nearly a third of all new heating systems in Poland were heat pumps in 2022, and the country became the EU's fifth largest market in absolute terms.

Poland's heat pump market has been on the upswing for several years. The number of units sold has increased from around 12,000 in 2012 to more than 200,000 in 2022. The rapid market growth began in 2018 following the reform of an air pollution law that increased financial support for heat pumps to replace coal-fired heating systems. Notably, Poland is one of the only European countries to provide renewable heating subsidies adjusted to household income.

Heat pumps are not the only energy technology to experience rapid growth in Poland. Solar PV markets also have skyrocketed, with Poland becoming the EU's third largest market in 2022. (See Figure 20.) The Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine also resulted in support for solar PV in 2022, with fossil gas and coal prices increasing substantially and consumers eager to avoid buying Russian gas.

FIGURE 20.

Sales of Heat Pumps and Additions of Solar PV in Poland, 2012-2022