Air Source Heat Pumps & Solar PV:

The Civil War is over!

Post by Tony Dunn – Renewable Heat Sales Manager, CCL Components – 04/08/23

As everyone in the renewable energy industry knows, time is a precious commodity at the moment, and you wouldn’t be alone if you said that you had no time for trade shows or similar events. However, those of us who were lucky enough to attend Installer Live at the NEC in Birmingham were treated to an incredible view of how the industry is going to progress over the next 5-10 years. What was historically a heating-only event, made the transition in summer 2022 to an all-encompassing renewables exhibition, with a major emphasis on showcasing solar PV & EV charging alongside traditional plumbing products and, crucially, air source heat pumps. To say that the show was eye opening is an understatement, but those who have worked in both sectors for a number of years have been aware that this closing-of-the-gap has been ready to happen for some time. If we take the self-build sector in Scotland as an example, the specification to meet the criteria for building standards, and produce a satisfactory SAP score (Standard Assessment Procedure), has included solar PV for several years. Mostly this is due to the comparative ease of installation and low cost of materials, but also the fact that the introduction of affordable in-roof PV, such as the Viridian Solar systems, represented a major change in aesthetics. Suddenly, we found that PV on a roof was taken as a badge of honour rather than an eyesore.   More recently, we have seen an influx in specification of air source heat pumps, particularly in off-gas-grid areas, as a way to meet SAP on new builds. The interesting point to note is that, often, the clients specify both PV and ASHP together as a package, and occasionally throw batteries and EV charging into the mix. Obviously, this specification is dictated by the needs of the client, the needs of the property, the local area, planning permission etc., but there has been a definitive shift in the sector.   It’s easy to see why public consciousness is at an all-time high regarding heat pumps and PV as a package, given the times that we are all currently living through. Yes, a heat pump solution alone represents a small saving, or a similar cost, when compared with gas at the moment, so is a more difficult sell for those who aren’t carrying out the works for green purposes. However, couple the heat pump with a PV system, and suddenly you have the potential for ‘free’ heating at certain points throughout the day. The PV system generates the free electricity, the heat pump then utilises that free electricity, and provides heating to the property at an average efficiency of 300%.   But what about the points when demand is at its highest for heat? What happens when it’s dark and cold, with no PV generation and high utilisation of the ASHP? Simple, add a battery into the mix. Excess PV generation can be stored in a battery and sent to the heat pump when the time is right. We can’t be naïve and say that this solution is perfect, because there is a great degree of technicality and expertise required to install such a system. However, it can’t be denied that the operation in principle is a sound strategy for saving energy.   At a manufacturer level, some of the most important names in both industries are coming together to make the dual-pronged approach easier for installers – and, most importantly, for consumers. SolarEdge recently announced a partnership with Vaillant and Samsung, to allow the end user the ability to send their excess PV generation to power the heat pump at any given point, all done through the SolarEdge portal. Similarly, SMA announced that their inverters can now be integrated into the Samsung Smart Things app, which is the software Samsung use to control their heat pumps, as well as internal appliances such as ovens, lights, speakers, Ring doorbells, Amazon Alexa and many more. It's safe to say that the age of the Smart Home is rapidly approaching, and the integrated Heat Pump and PV package is integral to this progression.   Useful links Vaillant & Samsung Heat Pumps available from CCL. Further information on the SMA & SolarEdge announcements: