Renewable Energy: Heat Pumps
Question: How heat pumps achieve energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction?
Answer: Through this unique ability, heat pumps can radically improve the energy efficiency and environmental value of any heating system that is driven by primary energy resources such as fuel or power. The following six facts should be considered when any heat supply system is designed:
1. Direct combustion to generate heat is never the most efficient use of fuel;
2. Heat pumps are more efficient because they use renewable energy in the form of low-temperature heat;
3. If the fuel used by conventional boilers were redirected to supply power for electric heat pumps, about 35-50% less fuel would be needed, resulting in 35-50% less emissions;
4. Around 50% savings are made when electric heat pumps are driven by CHP (combined heat and power or cogeneration) systems;
5. Whether fossil fuels, nuclear energy, or renewable power is used to generate electricity, electric heat pumps make far better use of these resources than do resistance heaters;
6. The fuel consumption, and consequently the emissions rate, of an absorption or gas-engine heat pump is about 35-50% less than that of a conventional boiler.
Question: How does it work?
Answer: Heat flows naturally from a higher to a lower temperature. Heat pumps, however, are able to force the heat flow in the other direction, using a relatively small amount of high quality drive energy (electricity, fuel, or high-temperature waste heat). Thus heat pumps can transfer heat from natural heat sources in the surroundings, such as the air, ground or water, or from man-made heat sources such as industrial or domestic waste, to a building or an industrial application. Heat pumps can also be used for cooling. Heat is then transferred in the opposite direction, from the application that is cooled, to surroundings at a higher temperature. Sometimes the excess heat from cooling is used to meet a simultaneous heat demand.
If you have any queries or suggestions, please contact us at:
Mayo Energy Agency Ltd
Arran Place
Ballina
Co. Mayo
Phone: (096) 76113
Fax: (096) 76199
Email: MayoEnergy@eircom.net