Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe
Heat pumps (HP) are an efficient alternative to non-electric heating systems (NEHS), being a cost-effective mean to support European building sector decarbonization. The paper studies HP and NEHS performance in residential buildings, under different climate conditions and energy tariffs, in six diff...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3939 |
| _version_ | 1797560638999887872 |
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| author | Olaia Eguiarte Antonio Garrido-Marijuán Pablo de Agustín-Camacho Luis del Portillo Ander Romero-Amorrortu |
| author_facet | Olaia Eguiarte Antonio Garrido-Marijuán Pablo de Agustín-Camacho Luis del Portillo Ander Romero-Amorrortu |
| author_sort | Olaia Eguiarte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Heat pumps (HP) are an efficient alternative to non-electric heating systems (NEHS), being a cost-effective mean to support European building sector decarbonization. The paper studies HP and NEHS performance in residential buildings, under different climate conditions and energy tariffs, in six different European countries. Furthermore, a primary energy and environmental analysis is performed to evaluate if the use of HPs is more convenient than NEHS, based on different factors of the electric mix in each country. A specific HP model is developed considering the main physical phenomena occurring along its cycle. Open data from building, climatic and economic sources are used to feed the analysis. Ad hoc primary energy factors and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission coefficients are calculated for the selected countries. The costs and the environmental impact for both heating systems are then compared. The outcomes of the study suggest that, in highly fossil fuels dependent electricity mixes, the use of NEHS represents a more efficient decarbonization approach than HP, in spite of its higher efficiency. Additionally, the actual high price of the electric kWh hampers the use of HP in certain cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:02:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1dfa881eba3420580e2760fa23561de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:02:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1dfa881eba3420580e2760fa23561de2023-11-20T08:45:47ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-08-011315393910.3390/en13153939Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in EuropeOlaia Eguiarte0Antonio Garrido-Marijuán1Pablo de Agustín-Camacho2Luis del Portillo3Ander Romero-Amorrortu4TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, SpainENEDI Research Group, Thermal Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48013 Bizkaia, SpainTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, SpainHeat pumps (HP) are an efficient alternative to non-electric heating systems (NEHS), being a cost-effective mean to support European building sector decarbonization. The paper studies HP and NEHS performance in residential buildings, under different climate conditions and energy tariffs, in six different European countries. Furthermore, a primary energy and environmental analysis is performed to evaluate if the use of HPs is more convenient than NEHS, based on different factors of the electric mix in each country. A specific HP model is developed considering the main physical phenomena occurring along its cycle. Open data from building, climatic and economic sources are used to feed the analysis. Ad hoc primary energy factors and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission coefficients are calculated for the selected countries. The costs and the environmental impact for both heating systems are then compared. The outcomes of the study suggest that, in highly fossil fuels dependent electricity mixes, the use of NEHS represents a more efficient decarbonization approach than HP, in spite of its higher efficiency. Additionally, the actual high price of the electric kWh hampers the use of HP in certain cases.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3939heat pumpsprimary energyelectric mixurban-scale decarbonizationdynamic energy tariffsheating demand management |
| spellingShingle | Olaia Eguiarte Antonio Garrido-Marijuán Pablo de Agustín-Camacho Luis del Portillo Ander Romero-Amorrortu Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe Energies heat pumps primary energy electric mix urban-scale decarbonization dynamic energy tariffs heating demand management |
| title | Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe |
| title_full | Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe |
| title_short | Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe |
| title_sort | energy environmental and economic analysis of air to air heat pumps as an alternative to heating electrification in europe |
| topic | heat pumps primary energy electric mix urban-scale decarbonization dynamic energy tariffs heating demand management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3939 |
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