Heat Pumps Watch on ARD Panorama
Heat Pumps Watch Celebrates Media Milestone – First Appearance on Germany’s Oldest Political ARD Magazine
December 5, 2024 – An important step for our organization: Heat Pumps Watch was featured for the first time on the renowned ARD magazine Panorama yesterday. Dr.-Ing. Marek Miara, founder of Heat Pumps Watch and researcher at Fraunhofer ISE, discussed the current challenges of the heat transition.
“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to present our fact-based perspective to a broad audience,” explains Miara. “It was particularly important to us that the program reported objectively and thoroughly – that’s exactly what we need in the often emotionally charged debate about the heat transition.”
Central Message: Facts Instead of Uncertainty
The Panorama segment highlighted a core problem that Heat Pumps Watch has been pointing out with scientific facts for months: The technological solutions for the heat transition are available – the greatest obstacle lies in the lack of reliability in political framework conditions.
The ongoing zigzag course with frequently changing signals, short-term adjustments to subsidies, and debates based more on catchphrases than facts leads to uncertainty – among citizens, tradespeople, and industry alike.
“Technology Openness” Needs Clear Definition
Heat Pumps Watch sees the current handling of the term “technology openness” as particularly worthy of discussion. The term is interpreted differently in public debate.
“Technology openness could be understood as an opportunity to objectively evaluate different technologies and then consistently focus on the most efficient one,” Miara explains in the Panorama segment. “In practice, however, we often see that the term leads to waiting: consumers postpone decisions, installers remain uncertain, investors hesitate.”
Heat Pumps Watch advocates for a clearer definition: True technology openness should mean setting priorities based on scientific evidence – rather than postponing decisions.
The Facts Are Clear – Now Implementation Is Needed
Heat Pumps Watch emphasizes: The technological solutions for the heat transition are available. Heat pumps are the central, scientifically proven building block for a climate-friendly and affordable heating system. Millions of installed units worldwide prove this every day.
“What we urgently need now is no more zigzagging, but reliability, clarity, and political courage for consistent implementation,” is Heat Pumps Watch’s conclusion.
Watch the ARD Panorama
You can watch the full Panorama segment here:
Link to ARD Panorama