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Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe

Author

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  • Olaia Eguiarte

    (TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
    ENEDI Research Group, Thermal Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48013 Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Antonio Garrido-Marijuán

    (TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain)

  • Pablo de Agustín-Camacho

    (TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain)

  • Luis del Portillo

    (ENEDI Research Group, Thermal Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48013 Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Ander Romero-Amorrortu

    (TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Olaia Eguiarte & Antonio Garrido-Marijuán & Pablo de Agustín-Camacho & Luis del Portillo & Ander Romero-Amorrortu, 2020. "Energy, Environmental and Economic Analysis of Air-to-Air Heat Pumps as an Alternative to Heating Electrification in Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:15:p:3939-:d:393156
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sam Hamels, 2021. "CO 2 Intensities and Primary Energy Factors in the Future European Electricity System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-30, April.
    2. Koldo Urrutia-Azcona & Patricia Molina-Costa & Iñigo Muñoz & David Maya-Drysdale & Carolina Garcia-Madruga & Iván Flores-Abascal, 2021. "Towards an Integrated Approach to Urban Decarbonisation in Practice: The Case of Vitoria-Gasteiz," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Hamels, Sam & Himpe, Eline & Laverge, Jelle & Delghust, Marc & Van den Brande, Kjartan & Janssens, Arnold & Albrecht, Johan, 2021. "The use of primary energy factors and CO2 intensities for electricity in the European context - A systematic methodological review and critical evaluation of the contemporary literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    4. Borge-Diez, David & Icaza, Daniel & Trujillo-Cueva, Diego Francisco & Açıkkalp, Emin, 2022. "Renewable energy driven heat pumps decarbonization potential in existing residential buildings: Roadmap and case study of Spain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    5. Agnieszka Żelazna & Justyna Gołębiowska & Dmytro Kosaryha, 2024. "Multi-Criteria Study on Ground Source Heat Pump with Different Types of Heat Exchangers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Giovanni Murano & Francesca Caffari & Nicolandrea Calabrese, 2024. "Energy Potential of Existing Reversible Air-to-Air Heat Pumps for Residential Heating," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-23, July.

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