Can the installation of heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources significantly reduce the scale of the increase in the cost of generating heat and power or completely solve the energy crisis that exists in countries with a predominantly coal-based energy industry and thereby increase the level of energy independence and security?
In 2022, the scale of sales of heat pumps in Poland increased by approximately 100 per cent compared to the previous year. This was due to the energy crisis generated by the slowing down of the development of renewable and emission-free energy sources by the PIS party currently in power over the past eight years and the promotion of energy development based mainly on burning combustible fuels, mainly coal and lignite. As a result, three quarters of Poland's electricity generation and even more of its heat generation is still based on burning coal. As a result, when the price of fossil fuels rose sharply between 2021 and 2022, the cost of living for many citizens increased by several tens of percent. The solution to the problem of rising heating and energy costs was to install heat pumps powered by electricity from photovoltaic panels installed on the roof or next to the house, or other renewable energy sources. However, these other alternative renewable and emission-free energy sources are few and far between due to energy policy. In order to increase the energy savings of their homes, many citizens would like to insulate their homes by renovating and adding insulation to the facades of their buildings. It is estimated that over 4 million residential homes in Poland lack thermal insulation. However, this is unfortunately not possible due to the overly limited financial programmes of non-refundable subsidies with which such investment projects could be financed. Many citizens, despite the fact that they would like, for example, to power heat pumps with electricity from a wind turbine, a windmill erected close to their home, have not had this opportunity because in 2016 the PIS government blocked the development of wind energy in Poland by passing the so-called 10h Law. Similarly, in April 2022, a change in the regulation of billing for photovoltaic panels installed on the roof or next to a residential house by citizens prosumers of their own electricity made these installations unprofitable and the number of new installations of this kind fell by three quarters. When the development of wind power in Poland was blocked in 2016, coal imports increased strongly. In addition, nuclear power and other fully renewable energy sources were not developed. The result is a low level of independence and energy security for the country. Besides, the result is one of the lowest air quality and high levels of smog in cities during the heating season in international rankings. Unfortunately, despite the existence of new renewable energy technologies whose application on a larger scale could solve the above problems, the scale of development of governmental and self-governmental programmes of financial subsidies and support from the European Union is still too small. And it is too small because Poland has not met the so-called milestones set by the European Commission and is the only country in the EU which has not received financial subsidies under the National Reconstruction Programme. One of these milestones is the issue of unblocking the onshore wind energy development previously blocked in 2016. Currently, i.e. in Q1. 2023, a law is being processed to unblock this issue. However, the still ruling PIS party, as part of its support for the development of coal-fired power generation and its support for government-controlled, monopolistically operating energy and fuel companies of the state treasury, included in the aforementioned law provisions that in practice limit the development of onshore wind energy (a minimum distance of 700 m between a windmill and the nearest buildings) so that only a few per cent of the country's area can be covered by these windmills. This means that a small proportion of willing citizens will benefit from this, and it will benefit mainly and also to a limited extent the government-controlled, monopolistically operating energy state companies. Thus the circle of this travesty of energy, climate and environmental pseudo-politics is closing. In view of the above, technological solutions that could solve the above problems are already available, but the national pseudo-politics of energy, climate and environment causes that the development of renewable and emission-free sources of energy, improvement of energy security, reduction of the scale of the energy crisis, improvement of air quality in cities is still being slowed down, the goals of sustainable development are being ignored by the PIS government, and the green transformation of the economy, achieving zero-emission of the economy, building a sustainable economy in accordance with counteracting the progressive process of global warming is progressing much slower than it could be.
In view of the above, I address the following question to the esteemed community of scientists and researchers:
Can the installation of heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources significantly reduce the scale of the increase in the cost of generating heat and energy or completely solve the energy crisis existing in countries where the energy industry is mainly based on coal and thus increase the level of independence and energy security?
What do you think about this topic?
What is your opinion on this subject?
Please respond,
Please answer with reasons,
I invite you all to discuss,
Thank you very much,
Best wishes,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Installing heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources can be a significant step towards reducing the scale of the energy crisis. Heat pumps are energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that transfer heat from one location to another, rather than generating heat by burning fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power can be used to power heat pumps, making them a sustainable alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems.
Heat pumps have the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, heat pumps could save up to 50% of the energy used for heating and cooling in buildings. By using renewable energy sources to power heat pumps, the emissions associated with energy generation can be significantly reduced. This can help to address the issue of climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
However, it's important to note that the scale of the energy crisis is complex and multifaceted, and no single solution can completely solve the problem. While heat pumps can be an important part of the solution, they will need to be implemented alongside other energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources to make a significant impact. In addition, there may be challenges associated with the adoption of heat pumps, such as initial installation costs and the need for appropriate infrastructure. Nonetheless, heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources can play a key role in addressing the energy crisis and creating a more sustainable energy system.
So far the efficiency of the renewable source is optimized and it could work in any conditions, then is a good alternative.
For sure, they can, but only if the electricity or gas used for operation is 100% green. If we look at the situation in Germany, this is fulfilled only by 50% in mean. IAnd in winter, when the heat demand is highest, the RE-share in the grid is even lower due to low PV power.
Heat Pumps are not a magic silver bullet.
The COP numbers involve some sleight of hand.
They compare the thermal energy obtained by
refrigeration cycles to simple resistance heating.
A proper comparison must be made with Total Cost Analysis
which considers the total embedded resources and energy over the operational lifetime.
They must be viewed as a secondary or tertiary approach.
The primary approach must be hyper-insulation and eliminating air-leakage to reduce heat-loss.
Passive-solar design principles to maximize (seasonal) heat-gain.
More efficient space-utilization to leverage the utility from the temperature-controlled space.
Simply replacing a Natural Gas furnace with an equivalent output Heat Pump is too simplistic.
An emerging technology, called Mother & Father Hybrid Compression, M&FHC, can be the answer, at least partial, if not 80-90 %, for future clean electrical, refrigeration and heating. It uses ambient temperature heat, only. It can ensure most ecological energy 24 h / day, 365 day / 365 year and practically in all globe area, from -50 C deg. to +70 C deg. Heat pumps, are using the electrical power energy produced by M&FHC and can improve the overall COP of refrigeration and heating.
Mihail-Dan Staicovici,
Head Researcher 1st Rank
Dr. Mechanical Engineer
This problem should be solved by 2050 when all electric power produced in the world be RES-based (as we expect). Some countries voluntarily advanced this date. More than 20 countries in the world are already very close to this indicator. So, let's try to reach that indicator as soon as possible.
Vytautas Adomavicius
citation required
Which specific countries are you claiming are "very close" to achieving 100% RES-based (I assume you mean that as code for zero GHG emissions)
_electrical_ energy production.
I know of zero countries in which ALL of the energy requirements are for electricity.
Most countries continue to use FF for many of their residential, commercial, industrial, transportation energy requirements.
Given that the (industrialized) human society has pushed the earth into OVERSHOOT, even if zero-GHG emissions were achieved today - never mind in 2050 - dramatic disruptions are already baked-in and beginning to emerge.
Kurt Klingbeil,
practical experience of heat pumps (HP) exploitation in many countries shows that your theories have no scientific background (no research results provided). Users of HP are satisfied that heating rooms and DHW cost them significantly less than using natural gas boilers. In addition, no gas pollutes the air. 90% of new houses in Holland were built in 2022 with installed HP and without any chimneys but with PV arrays on the roofs.
Heat pumps are known for more than 100 years. Arrived in here, i.e. experiencing the increasing global warming, more dangerous that pandemic or nuclear threaten, shows the problem is not to heat pumps use more or less, but to primary energy producing the electrical power supplying a heat pump. One of solutions could be the Mother & Father Hybrid Compression technology, already mentioned. It is the only technology capable to convert ambient temperature heat in electrical power 24 h/day, 365 day / year and practically all climates with -50 to +60 C deg. and specific net energy of several hundred kJ/ (kg working fluid). The technology is classic and can be applied without fundamental research.
Once we solve clean energy production 100 percent ecologically, further effective applications, like heat pumping (heating and / or cooling), benefit of an increased feasibility and planet saving.
Mihail-Dan Staicovici
Head Researcher 1st Rank,
Dr. Mechanical Engineer,
Bucharest, Romania,
Mobile: 0040720262589
Retro-fitting heat pumps into houses that are not air-tight is almost a waste of time: they work well in the summer (apart from not providing the water temperature desired by most people). In cold winters (i.e. below -5 C), when a lot of heating is needed, the COP is so low that they amount to direct electrical heating (unless expensive ground sourced units are used). The economic break-point for electrical heating against fossil fuel is about 3:1 even if all the power is wind based. They can be made to match ducted-air sealed houses, but these are not common in Europe and the high air-recirculation that is needed is a real infection risk.
Another good example of the ever-present Law of Unintended Consequences.
We speak about two different things, M&FHC, vs. heat pumps powered by conventional electrical power. Sorry, read carefully my previous replay.
Yes, installing heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the scale of the energy crisis. Heat pumps are energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that use electricity to transfer heat from the outside air, ground, or water to inside a building.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, can provide the electricity needed to power heat pumps without relying on fossil fuels. By using renewable energy to power heat pumps, we can reduce our dependence on non-renewable sources of energy, which are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.
In addition, heat pumps are more efficient than traditional heating systems such as furnaces or boilers. They can produce up to four units of heat for every unit of electricity they use, which makes them more efficient than electric resistance heating and fossil fuel heating systems. As a result, they can reduce energy consumption and lower energy bills, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, using heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources can help to reduce the scale of the energy crisis by increasing energy efficiency, reducing dependence on non-renewable sources of energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
You can take a look at the following articles:
Conference Paper Performance assessment of rooftop PV/T systems based on adap...
Conference Paper Performance Assessment of a Hybrid PV/T system during Winter...
While heat pumps are useful and should be used where suitable, they depend on low cost electricity. Wind and solar can provide expensive electricity, but only when nature smiles. The whole essence of the "energy crisis" is fear of CO2, an innocuous gas that may contribute trivially to the recovering temperature of the world (from the LIA). Otherwise, there is plentiful reliable and low cost energy available to mankind. Societies need reliable, low-cost energy to thrive then need security and certainty of energy supplies.
Heat pumps have a place in the scheme of things (heating and cooling cycles mainly), but are wealthy peoples machines really, as they need buildings that are specifically designed to use them.
There is a lot of hype and churn on the furnace vs heat pump question
It is not easily resolved unless one wants to rely on a simplistic reductionist
approach...
Furnaces rely on the local combustion of energy-dense fossil fuels.
Electricity relies predominantly on remote _combustion_ of energy-dense fossil fuels.
The COP of heat-pumps is based on the most primitive inefficient use of electricity - namely converting a high-exergy form into heat through resistance heating.
Heat-pumps are basically pushing heat up-hill. The higher the hill, the lower the efficiency, so when maintaining "room temperature" of 20C
if the exterior source/destination temperature is within 20C -
i.e. 0 to 40C - heat-pumps are quite functional.
When the differential exceeds 40C, they are highly inefficient or may not work at all.
The whole subject is complex and cannot be effectively reduced
to simplistic answers which offer any value.
The primary relevant elements which are often neglected are:
Insulation - Hyper-Insulation (and when practical, Thermal Mass)
to retain the interior temperature.
Passive HeatGain and Shading to maximize/minimize direct heat gain from
the insolation.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/heat-pump-vs-furnace/
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