Triveni Turbines introduces India’s first CO₂-based heat pump

Built in collaboration with IISc, Bengaluru, this product marks breakthrough moment in sustainable industrial heating and cooling solutions.

Triveni Turbine Limited (Triveni Turbines), one of the leading manufacturers of industrial steam turbines globally, has unveiled India’s first CO₂-based high-temperature heat pump capable of delivering heat up to 122°C and achieving a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 6. Indigenously developed the product marks a major step forward in offering clean and future-ready heating solutions to India’s industrial sector.

Unlike conventional heat pumps that use synthetic refrigerants with high global warming potential this new solution uses carbon dioxide (CO₂ or R-744) — a natural, non-toxic and non- flammable refrigerant with zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1. The launch comes at a time when countries, including India, are accelerating efforts to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, due to their high climate impact.

This heat pump is up to 3x more efficient than conventional electric heating solutions and significantly more efficient than average commercial heat pumps. Globally, a COP of 6 for high- temperature heat pumps operating above 100°C is considered best-in-class, especially under tropical climate conditions. The heat pump has been successfully tested at Triveni Turbines’ newly commissioned Heat Pump Test Centre in Bengaluru, where it met full performance benchmarks.

Announcing the launch of the country’s first CO₂-based heating solution, Dhruv M. Sawhney, Chairman and Managing Director, Triveni Turbine Limited, said “It is a moment of pride for us as we unveil pathbreaking innovation that will lead the shift from fossil-fuel based industrial heating and cooling solutions. This will provide much desired boost to the country’s path to Net-Zero emissions and alleviate the dependency on imports to fuel our industries, while adopting cleaner and increased efficient technologies. Our new heat pump is 100 percent engineered and made in India and helps reduce energy consumption, operational costs and environmental impact. The launch is also part of the Company’s broader strategy to expand its product and solutions portfolio and deliver technologically superior, energy-efficient products.”

This CO₂-based solution has been developed in technical collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, combining academic research with the industrial engineering legacy of Triveni Turbines. Dr. Pramod Kumar, Professor and Chair at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER), IISc, said, “It has been a privilege for me and my team to be associated with this project at Triveni Turbines. We believe this is one of the first high-temperature heat pump globally, that is capable of achieving temperatures up to 122°C using CO₂ as a refrigerant operating in a tropical environment. The development was not easy as trans-critical CO₂ systems operate at substantially higher pressures compared to conventional refrigerants like R124a or R1233zd. While the team at IISc worked on tailoring the cycle for Indian climatic conditions, the team at Triveni Turbines leveraged its rich engineering legacy in steam turbine manufacturing to design, manufacture and test the heat pump.”

The heat pump has been designed for process industries that require high-temperature heat, such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, chemicals, textiles, distilleries, pulp and paper, and district heating/cooling. It supports applications like steam generation, pasteurization, distillation, dehydration, dyeing, metal cleaning, and drying — making it highly relevant for sectors seeking to reduce fossil fuel use.

This next-generation product has been conceptualized, designed, and built entirely in India, reinforcing commitment by Triveni Turbines towards Make-In-India. Triveni Turbines has been the market leader in providing cost effective, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions have led to the substantial investment in undertaking extensive research and development. Triveni Turbines is also working on further expanding its product portfolio for industrial heating and power, cementing its role as a long-term partner in the clean energy transition.