On May 29, the California Heat Pump Partnership (CAHPP) officially launched with its first convening to bring together state agencies, manufacturers representing more than 90% of the U.S. consumer heat pump market, utilities, and other market actors to help achieve the state’s goal to install six million electric heat pumps by 2030. Launched with a shared vision to catalyze a sustainable, decarbonized future, the public-private partnership will drive forward a clean energy economy and advance California’s climate objectives by propelling widespread heat pump adoption through cross-sector collaboration and strategic partnerships.

“California knows how to scale clean energy. We’ve done this with electric vehicles, solar, wind, and battery storage—and now it’s time to take the benefits of heat pump technology mainstream,” said California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild. “Heat pumps provide Californians a way to both cool and heat their homes with no pollution. The California Heat Pump Partnership will help government and industry leaders do the barrier-busting necessary to ensure heat pumps are accessible to all Californians.”

“The Building Decarbonization Coalition is uniquely positioned to manage the partnership, and bring together state and industry leaders to rapidly grow the heat pump market in California,” said Terra Weeks, director for the CAHPP. “Scaling this technology will usher California into a new era of clean electric heating and cooling, and propel the state toward a carbon neutral future.”

The CAHPP will develop a blueprint outlining how to address technical, market, and policy barriers for achieving the state’s heat pump targets. The partnership will also deploy a statewide consumer marketing campaign through The Switch Is On, an initiative launched by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, to educate, inspire, and make switching to electric appliances easier for communities, contractors, and all those who live and work in buildings. 

“As California moves toward a carbon-neutral future, it’s crucial to foster close coordination between state and market leaders to achieve our building decarbonization goals,” said California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds. “The Heat Pump Partnership is a vital step in supporting California’s transition to clean electric heating and cooling. By aligning key stakeholders in the clean energy transition, we can minimize costs and maximize benefits for all Californians, driving us towards a more sustainable future.”

“California has advanced climate and air quality solutions through innovation and collaboration between government, communities, and industry to ensure equitable outcomes,” said California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph. “The heat pump partnership is the latest example of how state agencies and other climate leaders are working together to face the growing threat of extreme heat and the need to decarbonize with action, urgency, and a commitment to addressing the needs of vulnerable Californians.”

California currently has about 1.5 million heat pumps deployed and is on pace to install less than 200,000 heat pumps a year. To close the gap of 4.5 million heat pumps by 2030, heat pump adoption will need to nearly quadruple with about 750,000 units installed annually. Large-scale coordination efforts like the CAHPP are crucial to align major players in the clean energy transition and support California’s climate goals. Scaling heat pump adoption in the world’s fifth largest economy will also act as a global market signal, with the potential of transforming the world’s green economy.

“As a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, Carrier is committed to supporting the installation of six million heat pumps in California’s buildings by 2030,” said Kyle Gilley, vice president of government relations at Carrier. “Electrification continues to be a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and we are proud to be contributing to a greener tomorrow with our high quality, energy efficient, sustainable heat pump systems.” 

“The California Heat Pump Partnership represents the public-private collaboration that we need to accelerate the adoption of advanced heat pumps, such as those that utilize inverter technology,” said David Calabrese, senior vice president of government affairs at Daikin. “As a global leader in providing heat pumps, we are committed to working with the California government, its utilities, the environmental community, and our industry to help meet the state’s six million heat pump target and ensure that this technology is accessible to all Californians.”

The partnership also builds on an agreement made last year by ten of the world’s largest manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of heating and cooling equipment for buildings to rapidly scale the heat pump market. That agreement outlined commitments to help create manufacturing capacity, enhance efficiency, and incorporate load flexibility to decarbonize California’s buildings. 

“As a leading manufacturer serving the California market with efficient electric space, water heating, and pool heat pumps, Rheem is committed to supporting the state’s goals to install six million electric heat pumps by 2030,” said Chris Day, vice president of global product strategy, marketing and training at Rheem. “The objective of the Partnership and Market Advisory Board is to scale heat pump installations through collaboration with the entire supply chain and channel partners. I am excited about the ability of the Partnership to focus the state on the most important policy and market levers to drive heat pump adoption and Rheem’s role in enabling wide-scale building decarbonization.” 

“Our company is pleased to participate and contribute its more than twenty years of heat pump water heating expertise to the California Heat Pump Partnership as the state of California embarks on its ambitious goal of installing six million new heat pumps and heat pump water heaters by 2030,” said Joshua C. Greene, corporate vice president for government, regulatory, and industry affairs at A. O. Smith. “Through the leadership of Governor Newsom and the California Energy Commission, these combined efforts will help emphasize the co-benefits that heat pump technology offers — decarbonizing the built environment to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and lowering utility costs that will save consumers money.”

“Decarbonizing the built environment is within reach and comes with improved air quality, lower energy use, and more personal comfort,” said Dana Fischer, senior director of regulatory strategy at Mitsubishi Electric. “Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC U.S. is ready to do our part in achieving ambitious heat pump goals in California. Together we can make changes for the better.”

The California Heat Pump Partnership members include the following:

• Heat pump manufacturers, including A. O. Smith, Bradford White, Carrier, Daikin, Fujitsu General America Inc., Johnson Controls, Lennox, LG, Mitsubishi Electric, Rheem, and Trane Technologies
• Distributor: Ferguson 
• Electricity providers, including Pacific Gas and Electric, Edison International, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and Ava Community Energy
• Policymakers representing the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, California Public Utilities Commission, and the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
• Innovation leader: Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator