Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Heat Pumps in New Single-Family Homes
For new single-family homes, the heat pump has surpassed the gas boiler since 2017 as the most popular heating technology in Germany. Heat pumps are installed in 45 percent of new buildings to provide hot water and space heating. However, as the examples from other European countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden show, the proportion of heat pumps could be significantly higher. These units offer ecological, energetic and economic advantages that are attractive for the end user and key for the future energy system. No other heating technology is able to provide 1 kWh of heat using less energy. Thus heat pumps can reduce CO2 emissions significantly.
Advantages
- independence from fossil fuels
- highest efficiency classes in the EU Energy Label for heating appliances
- ability to heat and cool
- significant reduction of CO2 emissions compared to gas heating
- use of own electricity from PV system
- state funding
- contributes to the stabilization of the power grid
R&D on Heat pumps in New Single-Family Homes:
- reduction of refrigerant charge in the refrigeration circuit
- use of natural refrigerant (focus on propane)
- development of safety concepts for flammable refrigerants
- optimization of heat exchangers
- investigation of new types of heat sources, such as PVT collectors
- facilitation of heat pump installation
- optimization of the planning and efficiency during operation using AI
- analyze the load shifting potential of heat pumps in the field