Pump-Up
Pump-Up
PUMP-UP supports Europe’s green energy transition by developing modern training and certification resources for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning technicians. The project focuses on the skills required for the professional installation, maintenance and servicing of heat pump systems.
Topic
Heating and cooling account for a significant share of Europe’s energy consumption and still rely heavily on fossil fuels. Heat pumps are therefore essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the transition towards renewable and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.
The rapid expansion of heat pump technology has created a growing demand for qualified HVAC technicians. PUMP-UP addresses this skills gap by updating occupational requirements and developing flexible, practical and accessible training in heat pump installation, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Through a common European approach, the project supports consistent training standards, improves the recognition of acquired competencies and helps vocational education providers adapt their programmes to current labour-market needs.
Target Audience
- HVAC students and trainees
- Experienced HVAC technicians
- Heat pump installers and maintenance professionals
- Vocational education and training providers
- Teachers, trainers and assessors in technical education
- Industry representatives and sector experts
- Policymakers and organisations responsible for qualifications and skills recognition
Consortium
The PUMP-UP consortium brings together seven organisations from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece and Spain:
- Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain – Project Coordinator
- PROMEA – Hellenic Society for the Promotion of Research and Development Methodologies, Greece
- Tartu Vocational College, Estonia
- ECQA – European Certification and Qualification Association, Austria
- CELF – Center for Vocational Education Lolland-Falster, Denmark
- Innovela, Belgium
- Renewables Academy – RENAC, Germany
Project Output
PUMP-UP develops a comprehensive set of European training and qualification resources for heat pump installation and maintenance. Its principal outputs include:
- Updated occupational requirements for HVAC technicians
- Learning units covering heat pump installation, maintenance and troubleshooting
- An open-access Massive Open Online Course
- A multilingual mobile Virtual Assistant with instructions, checklists and frequently asked questions
- On-site and online training seminars
- A micro-credentials-based certification scheme
- A qualification blueprint for HVAC technicians
- Seven national information events
- A European conference on HVAC technologies and reskilling needs
The training resources are designed to support both trainees and experienced professionals. They can also be integrated into existing vocational education programmes and used for flexible, self-paced professional development.
By strengthening the skills of HVAC technicians, PUMP-UP contributes directly to the successful deployment of heat pumps throughout Europe. Properly trained professionals are essential for ensuring that heat pump systems are installed safely, maintained correctly and operated efficiently.
The project also supports greater consistency between national training systems and European qualification frameworks. Its open learning resources and micro-credentials make specialised heat pump training more accessible and help professionals demonstrate competencies acquired through formal and non-formal learning.
