Heat From Air
Solar Assisted Heat Pumps
What is a solar assisted heat pump?
A solar assisted heat pump is a heat pump combined with a solar collector (a series of panels that convert sunlight into heat). Like other heat pumps, a solar assisted heat pump takes heat from the outside environment, which can be used to provide hot water in your home and may even be able to meet your heating needs if your home has a high level of energy efficiency.
Unlike other types of heat pumps, a solar assisted heat pump can also take heat directly from sunlight. It does this using a solar collector like those used in solar hot water systems.
However, unlike the collector used in a solar hot water system, the one used in a solar assisted heat pump can also extract heat from the air. This allows the system to produce hot water even when the sun isn’t shining.
How does a solar assisted heat pump work?
A solar assisted heat pump combines an air-to-water heat pump with a solar collector panel. Usually, the solar collector and heat pump are linked directly, sharing the same refrigeration circuit.
Heat from the outdoor air is absorbed by the solar collector into a refrigerant gas. This warmed gas is passed to a heat pump compressor, which raises the temperature further. This heat is then transferred into the home – usually to heat the water in a hot water cylinder.
For further information on how a heat pump works, including details on system design and control.
Solar assisted heat pumps are generally not used for space heating (i.e heating for the rooms in your home). This is because they don’t produce enough heat to cover both the hot water and space heating needs of most homes. However, they may be able to heat very small or thermally efficient homes, which have lower space heating requirements.
If you need your heating system to heat your home as well as your hot water, it may be better to consider an air source heat pump or a ground source heat pump, as these systems provide both heating and hot water, without the need for a separate system.
You’ll need a place outside your home where the heat pump’s outside evaporator unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. You will also need space on a roof or suitable wall to mount the solar collector.
Our advice pages have more information about the installation requirements for different systems, including air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems.
A solar assisted heat pump can’t provide hot water on demand like a combi boiler, so you’ll need a way of storing hot water for when you need it. The size of hot water cylinder required will depend on the amount of hot water that your household typically uses, but the cylinder can usually be fitted inside any cupboard that measures around 80x80cm.
Many solar assisted heat pumps include an integrated hot water cylinder that can connect to other heating sources, which means you don’t need a separate cylinder. Some models even allow you to keep your existing cylinder if you prefer.
If you don’t have space for a hot water cylinder, you could use a smaller heat battery to store the energy.
How much does a solar assisted heat pump cost?
The cost of a solar assisted heat pump varies depending on the brand, model and size of heat pump, hot water cylinder, the size of the property and whether it’s a new build or an existing property.
We recommend speaking to at least three installers to provide a quote for your heat pump system to give you the best idea of likely costs for your home. Check out our award winning HVAC services!
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Your Green Future
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Your green future
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Your Green Future
Starts Here
Your green future
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