Comparison of solar heat pump systems to conventional methods for residental heating, cooling, and water heating. Final report

Abstract

This study performed an analysis of series and parallel configured solar heat pump systems for residences. The year-round thermal performance for all the heating, cooling, and hot water system configurations were determined by simulation and compared against conventional heating and cooling systems in several geographic locations. The series and parallel combined solar heat pump systems investigated are at best marginally competitive, on a 20-year life-cycle cost basis, with conventional oil and electric furnace systems. The combined solar heat pump systems are not economically competitive with conventional gas furnace or stand-alone heat pump systems for residential space heating, cooling, and water heating. The combined solar heat pump systems do offer the potential for significant energy savings as compared to conventional furnace systems and the stand-alone heat pump. The cost of that savings, however, is beyond that which the average consumer can be expected to pay. It would seem that the same energy savings could be obtained for less cost using a combination of conventional technologies, passive techniques, and conservation measures. It appears unlikely that during the next five years any of the combined solar heat pump systems studied here will be installed for purely economic reasons. It remains to be determinedmore » what can be done to make these systems competitive. Barring unforeseen manufacturing process or materials breakthroughs, parallel systems prices are firm. A collector cost sensitivity analysis did not offer any encouraging directions toward significant systems cost reduction. Further development of parallel and series combined solar heat pump systems should no longer be pursued, unless justified by policy level or other non-economic factors.« less