The IES Institute for Energy Systems had the honor of welcoming Dr. Tim Walmsley from the University of Waikato in New Zealand to Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences in Buchs. From June 23rd to 27th, he visited the IES and the Heat Pump Test Center, engaging in in-depth exchanges with OST researchers.
Dr. Tim Walmsley is a leading expert in heat pump technology, process integration, smart energy systems, and pinch analysis to improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes – all key topics of the research project SWEET DeCarbCH. Supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the project aims to make heating and cooling systems in the residential, service, and industrial sectors not just carbon neutral but carbon negative over the next three decades.
Significant Progress
Within the SWEET project, the IES is responsible for developing and demonstrating system solutions for medium- and high-temperature heat supply as well as cooling applications. The research team addresses topics such as varying load profiles, peak load management, simultaneous heating and cooling, control strategies, and pathways for rapid market adoption.
In recent months, the IES and its research partners have achieved major breakthroughs in the field of industrial heat pumps. Among other things, a concept was developed for flexible heat pumps capable of reaching temperatures up to 200 °C. In another project, the IES examined how heat pumps can be used to generate process steam without fossil fuels. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy reported on this work (see PDF under «Further Information»).
First Heat Pump to Generate Steam
Together with the IES team, Dr. Tim Walmsley has now planned New Zealand’s first steam-generating heat pump demonstrator. It is scheduled to be presented in 2026 at the 17th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Additional highlights of the week included:
- A lecture on integrating heat pumps with the Open-Pinch software
- A visit to the IES research laboratories in Buchs
- An introduction to the Ahuora Digital Twin Platform
- Discussions on future student mobility between OST and the University of Waikato
The IES’s strong international network in the field of heat pump technology is also reflected in its continuing education programs. A webinar on steam-generating heat pumps held last year attracted over 570 participants from 42 countries.