Forward-looking heating since 1975: How Bosch has been reinventing the heat pump for 50 years
The oil crisis as a wake-up call: Bosch focuses on energy efficiency
The history of Bosch heat pumps is a success story that began with Germany's greatest energy crisis in the early 1970s. Fossil fuels became more expensive, and environmental issues moved into the spotlight. As early as 1972, Bosch experts were convinced of the efficiency of heat pump technology and continued to develop the young technology for the heating supply. In 1975, Bosch presented the first water-to-water heat pump under the Junkers brand at the ISH trade fair. It used groundwater as a heat source for heating buildings.
The Bosch Tritherm House – a visionary energy experiment
Just one year after the presentation of the first Junkers heat pump, Bosch reached another milestone in heat pump technology: in 1976, the experimental “Tritherm House” was built at the Wernau site near Stuttgart. Developed by what was then the Bosch Thermotechnology division, today known as the Bosch Home Comfort Group, it served both as a research project and a showcase for the interaction between solar thermal energy and heat pumps. Visitors could experience the technology's performance first-hand, while Bosch experts explained how solar thermal energy and heat pumps could be used together for the heating supply. In addition to addressing the issue of finite fossil fuels, this pioneering experimental house demonstrated the dedication of Bosch researchers to developing new approaches for future heating supply.
Milestones: From pioneer project to established technology
With the continuous advancement of the technology, Bosch was able to introduce the second generation of heat pumps in the 1980s. These models were technically further developed than their predecessors. At the Intherm trade fair in Stuttgart in 1980, Junkers presented a hot water heat pump specifically optimized for residential use. In the following decades, Bosch set new standards in heat pump technology through strategic acquisitions: in 2004, the company acquired Swedish heat pump manufacturer IVT, followed by US-based FHP in 2007. These strategic steps strengthened Bosch's international market position in this growing sector and expanded its heat pump portfolio. Since the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015, the building sector has become increasingly important in achieving climate goals. In the EU, it accounts for 36 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Heat pumps are seen as an important technology option for heating supply in new buildings and existing building stock - in new buildings, renovated properties, and as hybrid solutions for unrenovated buildings. Demand has been rising steadily since the late 2010s.
ISH 2025: Bosch Home Comfort Group develops an affordable “All-in-One” heating solution
With rising demand for heating systems with heat pumps, the Bosch Home Comfort Group significantly increased its investments in research and development early on. In 2011, the company unveiled its first “Energy Plus House” featuring a Buderus heat pump that generated more energy than it consumed. In 2023, the Bosch Home Comfort Group presented its first air-to-water heat pump using the refrigerant propane. Propane is a refrigerant which, due to its extremely low GWP value of 0.02, has a lower impact on the climate. Thanks to its thermodynamic properties, it enables high energy efficiency and higher flow temperatures. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bosch heat pump technology, the company once again made headlines: the first “All-in-One” heating system is launched. This new system combines gas condensing technology, hybrid heating, and heat pump functionality in a single solution, enabling a step-by-step transition to a heating supply with a heat pump for many existing buildings with gas heating. Thanks to its flexible installation options, it can be quickly installed and later converted into a fully electric heat pump.
The Heat Pump 2075: Shaping the Future with Bosch Home Comfort Group
For half a century, Bosch has been shaping the development of heat pumps with innovation and foresight. What began as a response to the oil crisis is now an important technology for heating supply. With technical developments and a focus on heat pump technology, the Bosch Home Comfort Group will continue to be an actor in the field of heat pump technology in the decades to come.