The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) proposed that high-temperature, large-capacity industrial heat pumps and technologies for utilizing data center waste heat should be strategically fostered to address the increasing demand for data center cooling driven by the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and the decarbonization of industrial processes.

On the 15th, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials published the 124th issue of "Machine Technology Policy," titled "Heat Pumps, Core Thermal Energy Conversion Technology for Carbon Neutrality in the AI Era," which analyzes global heat pump market, technology, and policy trends, and presented directions for research and development and institutional reform to secure the competitiveness of the heat pump industry.

A heat pump is a heat conversion device that absorbs heat from a low-temperature heat source and produces high-temperature heat. As it can replace conventional fossil fuel-based boilers, it can be applied not only to building heating and cooling but also to industrial process heat production, data center cooling, and waste heat recovery.

According to the report, the global heat pump market is projected to expand from $75.8 billion in 2024 to $162.6 billion in 2030. Industrial heat pumps are being considered as an alternative to reduce carbon emissions generated during manufacturing processes, and key areas of technological development include industrial high-temperature heat pumps, the application of natural refrigerants, digital control, and the utilization of waste heat from data centers.

The industrial sector accounts for approximately 40% of global final energy consumption. The report analyzed that converting fossil fuel-based heat sources used in industrial processes into electric-based high-efficiency heat systems is a carbon reduction challenge. With the increase in AI data centers, a plan was also proposed to link the waste heat generated during the cooling process with district heating networks or the heat demand of industrial complexes.

In terms of policy, it was observed that support policies for heat pumps are expanding from a focus on subsidies to include electricity rate systems, carbon pricing, technology demonstration, and manufacturing bases. The government has set a target of distributing 3.5 million heat pumps by 2035 through the 'Plan to Promote the Dissemination of Heat Pumps.'

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) is conducting research on high-efficiency and eco-friendly heat pump systems and core equipment, centered around the Heat Pump Research Center under the Carbon Neutrality Research Institute. The 2025 Heat Pump Technology Roadmap presented mid-to-long-term development directions for industrial heat pumps, digital twin heat pumps, and data center cooling technology.

The report proposed expanding R&D on high-temperature, large-capacity industrial heat pumps, establishing demonstration infrastructure, refining regulations for the transition to natural refrigerants, laying the groundwork for a system to utilize waste heat from data centers, and strengthening collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutes as well as international cooperation, as tasks to secure the competitiveness of the domestic heat pump industry.

Lee Un-gyu, a principal researcher at the Machinery Policy Center of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), stated, “Heat pumps are a technology capable of addressing both the decarbonization of industrial processes and the transition of power and thermal infrastructure,” adding, “We must secure high-temperature, large-capacity heat pumps, core components, and a demonstration base together.”