SKILLSAFE EU was proud to be presented at the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference (HPC 2026), held in Vienna from 26 to 29 May 2026. Organised by the International Energy Agency’s Heat Pumping Technologies Programme (IEA HPT TCP) and the Austrian Institute of Technology, the conference is widely recognised as the leading international event dedicated to heat pump technologies, bringing together researchers, manufacturers, policymakers, investors and market actors from around the world to discuss the future of sustainable heating and cooling. Under the theme “Decarbonisation through Innovation”, this year’s edition welcomed more than 800 participants and over 360 scientific and applied contributions covering technology, policy, markets and applications.
During the session dedicated to communication, information and education, Nishant Karve (Daikin Europe) presented the work carried out within the SKILLSAFE EU project and highlighted the growing importance of upskilling and reskilling installers and technicians as the sector transitions towards refrigerants with higher flammability and lower global warming potential. As the updated F-gas Regulation accelerates the uptake of natural refrigerants such as R-290, ensuring that professionals have the right competences and safety knowledge is becoming increasingly critical for the heat pump sector.
The presentation focused in particular on the SKILLSAFE EU Guidelines, developed together with the Joint Industry Expert Group, which provide practical recommendations for the safe handling of residential heat pumps using highly flammable refrigerants. Particular attention was also given to the pilot training programme currently being implemented across Europe to validate the guidelines in real-life conditions and gather feedback directly from installers and technicians.
By bringing the topic of skills and safety to one of the world’s most influential heat pump conferences, SKILLSAFE EU contributed to reinforcing an increasingly important message for the sector: the success of Europe’s heat pump transition will depend not only on technology innovation, but also on the availability of a skilled workforce able to install, operate and maintain these systems safely and effectively.
