Proposals should address one of the two scopes below. The scope addressed should be clearly specified in the proposal’s introduction.

Scope A: Alternative business and delivery models
Proposals should stimulate large-scale demand for heat pumps in existing buildings, while significantly reducing or spreading over several years investment costs and ensuring high-quality of the installations.

To that end, the proposed actions should tackle specific market barriers and develop, demonstrate, upscale and/or replicate alternative business and/or heat delivery models. These may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: a) heat as a service; b) Pay-for-Performance (P4P) and c) joint procurement actions. In doing so, proposals should ensure the high quality of installations and that selected buildings are suitable and ready (e.g. in terms of thermal insulation, radiator systems) for heat pump installation prior to any installation and that building heating needs and heat pump size are properly evaluated.

The focus of the proposed actions should be at least on space heating; however, this does not preclude considering reversible heat pumps in addition. Actions may address any type of buildings, although multi‐apartment and commercial buildings are especially encouraged. Synergies of heat pumps with PV installations and/or hybrid renewable heating and cooling systems could also be promoted.

Heat pumps should be designed and installed by professionals with relevant qualifications and skills. All relevant stakeholders necessary for the successful implementation of the action should be involved; if not directly involved, their support should be demonstrated in the proposal.

Scope B: Addressing the shortage of skilled installers and professionals for heat pumps

Proposals should aim to significantly increase the number of skilled heat pump installers and other relevant professionals, thereby reducing the growing gaps in certain markets. To that end, proposals shall undertake one or more of the following:

• Identify and map profiles and set up actions (e.g. partnerships) to attract and reskill professionals from other sectors with skills transferable to the heat pump value chain.
• Identify and quantify skills and workforce gaps at the local/regional/national level and/or build on existing solid gap analyses and set up actions (e.g. new or upgraded training/qualification schemes) incentivising/facilitating the upskilling of the workforce, especially installers; strengthen skills for professionals to integrate heat pumps as part of building renovation projects and skills for integrated solutions (e.g. heat pumps and PV together, hybrid heating systems combining several technologies and fuels, e.g. hybrid heat pumps, solar thermal with heat pumps, integrated thermal and electric storage solutions, digital control systems etc.).
• Support cooperation between trades and/or among national associations and other relevant stakeholders to develop, test, and disseminate widely agreed EU-wide competencies, content guidelines for specialised training programmes, and core training material replicable and adaptable to local contexts.
• Support the set-up of state-of-the-art training facilities for heat pump installers (excluding infrastructure costs).