Home storage is trendy. That´s because they make sustainably generated energy usable when it is needed. This protects resources and the wallet: If you have a photovoltaic system and store energy during the hours of sunshine, you can still use it in the evening or morning hours. For example, for a heat pump. It is the perfect addition to the sustainable duo of home storage and photovoltaic system. The heat pump does not use the conventional raw materials oil and gas, which are becoming more expensive and scarce. Instead, it gets around 75 percent of its energy from the immediate environment. Only the remaining 25 percent is electricity. If this is fed via a photovoltaic system from solar energy, homeowners can generate their heat even more efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly way.
Without home storage, the combination of photovoltaic system and heat pump cannot fully exploit its potential. Because the solar energy, which benefits the heat pump via the photovoltaic system, is generated only during the day and not in the early morning or evening when there is no sun. These are exactly the times of the day when not only the electrical appliances in the household, but also heating system is in use, at least in the colder months. Regenerative energy is not available in the morning and evening. Because unused solar energy flows back into the grid. Instead, conventional energy sources must be used. It’s different with a home storage system: It stores excess energy and makes it available at a later time – for example for heating in the evening.
RESU FLEX: high-voltage system with high storage capacity
One of these home storage solutions is RESU FLEX from LG Energy Solution. The high-voltage system consists of a control unit and at least two battery models. Depending on requirements, these can be expanded to a storage capacity of up to 17.2 kWh. Installation is easy via app. It also gives users an insight into the current memory status. Flexible expansion, easy handling and high performance make RESU FLEX the perfect home storage solution. Best in combination with a photovoltaic system and heat pump.
How a heat pump works
The principle of the heat pump is clever: it extracts thermal energy from its surroundings outside the building – from the air, the earth or the groundwater, depending on the model. However, the temperature of the energy generated is not yet high enough to heat a house or produce hot water. That is why the heat pump uses a cyclic process: the heat source system contains water with antifreeze added. This liquid takes the heat from its natural environment and transports it to the main body of the heat pump. A refrigerant with a low boiling point circulates there. It absorbs the heat and evaporates. A compressor compresses the refrigerant, pressure and temperature increase. The refrigerant is now in gaseous form and reaches the condenser. Here it is condensed and gives off its heat to the heating circuit. Now it can be used to heat the building. The refrigerant is expanded again and flows back to the evaporator, the cycle begins again.
Heat pump system has high efficiency
What is special about the heat pump system is its high level of efficiency, which is higher than that of conventional heating, in terms of how much energy is generated per energy invested. In addition, the heat pump does not release any CO2 when absorbing heat. The heat obtained corresponds to around 75 percent of the energy that the heat pump needs to heat a building. Only the missing 25 percent comes from electricity. This is where the photovoltaic system comes into play. Because the solar energy it generates can contribute to the last quarter of the energy required. The combination of photovoltaic system and heat pump is a very energy-efficient solution that is becoming more and more attractive due to the energy and environmental situation. Especially since there are government funding opportunities.
Promotion of photovoltaic system and heat pump
The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) currently subsidizes heat pump systems with 35 percent of the eligible costs. These must “meet the corresponding minimum technical requirements.” Further funding options apply to “efficient heat pump systems” in existing buildings. The recently approved BEG reform provides for new funding conditions from 2023. Among other things, there is a 10% heating exchange bonus and a 5% heat pump bonus for the use of water, ground or wastewater heat sources.
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection has compiled answers to the most important questions about the BEG reform, which also includes funding options for other renovation measures, here (in German). KfW bank supports the purchase of photovoltaic systems and other energy efficiency measures with cheap loans. In addition, the Annual Tax Act 2022 provides for extensive tax relief for small photovoltaic systems. Changes to income tax should already apply to the tax year 2022.
[1] https://www.bafa.de/DE/Energie/Heizen_mit_Erneuerbaren_Energien/Foerderprogramm_im_Ueberblick/foerderprogramm_im_ueberblick_node.html
