HeatCraftHP: A work-place learning path providing core knowledge and skills to heat pump professionals

Introduction

The specialized craft of installing, maintaining, and optimizing heat pumps demands extensive knowledge and skills to attain peak performance and guarantee the system’s reliability. With a shortfall of over 500,000 skilled craftsmen in Europe's heat pump sector, the primary goal of the HeatCraftHP project is to identify the skill set crucial for proficient heat pump installation and troubleshooting.

Objectives

This involves:

1. Mapping the essential skills.
2. Identifying skills gaps for current and potential future workforce groups, with a specific focus on female workers.
3. Developing programs for up- and reskilling to bridge these gaps effectively.

Up- and Reskilling Program

For effective up- and reskilling, we develop a comprehensive and tailored program where learning activities are integrated into daily work activities. This workplace learning curriculum will seamlessly blend succinct theoretical elements with immediate practical applications, fostering learning transfer.

Interactive Learning Elements

By integrating interactive game-based learning elements, such as:

• A heat pump simulator.
• A troubleshooting simulator.
• A system integration tool.

Our objective is to equip craftsmen as well as craftswomen with fundamental knowledge and skills essential for designing and integrating heat pumps into existing heating systems.

Focus on Hybrid Systems

This integration and troubleshooting of hybrid systems is the challenge that will prevent or promote the effectiveness of heat pumps and their large-scale adoption. Hence, it is the focus of our workplace learning curriculum with its materials and tools.

Conclusion

Our approach not only seeks to elevate future workforce groups’ existing knowledge and skills but also ensures that future heat pump installations benefit from both enhanced reliability and superior performance. The overarching objective of the initiative is to address the escalating educational needs of craftsmen in the heat pump sector, ultimately advancing the efficiency and effectiveness of these crucial systems throughout Europe.