Korea's KIMM launches solar heat‑pump system for industrial sites

A research team led by Dr. Chang‑Dae Park at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has created an Industrial Thermal Energy Optimization Platform (iTOP) and a Solar Heat Pump Industrial Process Thermal Energy System (SoHProtes). The platform evaluates more than 21 heat‑supply options—gas, electric, electrode boilers, high‑temperature heat pumps, solar thermal, CHP, etc.—and recommends equipment configurations based on site‑specific data such as location, land area, temperature needs, waste‑heat availability and load patterns.

The team installed a 300 kW solar‑heat‑pump system at a food‑processing plant in Gimpo and has operated it for over 1½ years, demonstrating field applicability. The solution is intended to help industrial facilities transition from fossil‑fuel boilers to high‑efficiency, low‑carbon heat sources, accelerating carbon‑neutral goals for the sector.