The AECB presents a dive into the truth and misconceptions on heat pumps based on a Twitter thread by Dr Jan Rosenow.
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Dr Jan Rosenow is a Principal and Director of European Programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a global team of highly-skilled energy experts. He is responsible for all aspects of leadership, management, and financial viability of RAP’s work in Europe.
False. The most heat pumps can be found in the coldest climates. More than half of all households in Norway have one.
Source : nature.com
This depends on energy prices in your country. The International Energy Agency produced a handy interactive calculation tool that allows you to explore & compare economics of different residential heating systems.
Heat pumps work well with radiators too. In some cases radiators may need upgrading. But it has been common practise in recent years for heating installers to 'oversize' radiators.
Source : Sciencedirect.com
Ground source heat pumps make very little noise. Air source heat pumps can be quiet too as this video shows. Also remember: in the summer when you're out in the garden heat pumps usually don't run as no heating is required.
Source : youtube.com
Please note an advert may play before the video. This is outside of our control as the video is on the free to view platform of Youtube.
False. At SCOP 3 a heat pump even if running 100% on gas electricity needs ~1/3 less gas to make the same amount of heat than a boiler.
Heat pumps reduce gas even if they use electricity from 100% gas. Professor Sir David MacKay said this already in 2008: "Heat pumps are superior in efficiency to condensing boilers, even if the heat pumps are powered by electricity from a power station burning natural gas."
Partially true. But many countries offer subsidies for heat pumps & with running costs included heat pumps can offer lifetime savings over fossil fuel systems. But it depends on the country.
Source : raponline.org
False. Better fabric efficiency and district heating are very important too and can offer large system benefits in terms of flexibility and system benefits.
Source : raponline.org
False. It is true that most power grids still include a lot of fossil generation. But every year substantial amounts of renewables are added to the grid driving out fossil generation.
Source : energymonitor
False. 2022 saw record growth in heat pump sales in Europe and in the US for the first time more than 4m heat pumps were sold surpassing gas furnaces for the first time.
Source : carbonbrief.org
False. The first heat pump as we know it today was built by Peter von Rittinger in 1856. Heat pumps were put in peoples' homes already many decades ago.
We found this image when retrofitting a pre 1940s home. Newspaper from 1948, with the homeowner showing off his new heat pump in Vancouver. I often use it to show that heat pumps are not new.
Mainly false. Even at temperatures below freezing heat pumps still perform well as field data shows. For very cold temperatures well below freezing hybrid systems may be needed.
False. Recent results from the UK indicate that there is no significant variation in performance based on house age. I also had a heat pump in my home built in 1880 since 2019 performing very well.
You never switch the heat pump off manually but this does not mean the heat pump is operating all the time. The system automatically adjusts to outside and indoor temperatures and ramps down when it is warmer.
Households who installed a heat pump report that they are as comfortable or more comfortable than before the installation in survey by Coolproducts.eu.
81% have seen the level of comfort improve.
Source : Coolproducts.eu
False. "Houses do not have to be extensively renovated in order to allow for an installation of a heat pump." But good fabric efficiency offers energy system benefits and keep costs down.
Source : blog.innovation4e.de
False. The evidence suggests the opposite. Heat pumps increase the value of properties. “Residences with an air source heat pump enjoy a 4.3–7.1% (or US$10,400–17,000) price premium on average.”
Source : nature.com
Partially true. In many places there is capacity in the grid to supply electricity for more heat pumps. But with significant heat pump uptake electricity demand will grow and grid investment is needed.
Source : euractive.com
False. There are projects where tower blocks use ground source heat pumps. Large heat pumps can also fuel district heating networks connecting apartments.
Source : Kensa
It is true that during a power cut heat pumps cannot function. But the same is the case for a gas boiler.
Source : mcrgas.co.uk
Only partially true. Microbore piping is not ideal but it can work with a heat pump under certain conditions.
Source : heatgeek.com
Mainly false. Yes, heat pumps can heat any building even if uninsulated. But at significant cost. Modest fabric efficiency improvements always make sense also for fossil heating.
Source : foresightdk.com