Air Source Heat Pump and Battery Storage

As more properties look to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, become more sustainable, and increase their grid independence, choosing a heat pump can meet many of these needs. Heat pumps are also likely to see significant growth in the next few years due to the announcement that gas boilers are likely to be banned in new build properties within the next few years.

At Leomon, our work with home builders everywhere sparked our interest in heat pumps, and we wanted to share with you our thoughts on how they work with solar panels.

What exactly is a heat pump?

Heat pumps come in one of two forms:

1. Air source

2. Ground source

The main difference between the two is the source from which they extract heat (as the name suggests, air or ground). Air source heat pumps tend to be less expensive than floor pumps because they cost less to install. But they are also less efficient than surface pumps, resulting in less long-term cost savings.

How does a heat pump work?

The purpose of a heat pump is to transfer heat from one location to another. For example, a floor pump might work by transferring heat from the soil to the kitchen or living room. Heat pumps are known to achieve efficiencies between 200-600%.

Heat pumps run on electricity, which greatly increases your household expenses. That is, unless you're considering pairing them with solar panels.

Can a heat pump be paired with a solar panel?

The short answer to this question is yes! But homeowners are often reluctant to invest in solar panels due to the seasonality of solar panel performance. Not surprisingly, the average solar panel produces the most energy in the summer, which makes it less attractive in the winter when the heat pump is most needed.

But there is a great solution to this problem, as many homeowners have found their advantage: battery energy storage.

Homeowners who add battery energy storage to a home solar system will be able to retain the excess energy produced during the day and then use it when the system needs it. Naturally, home battery storage further increases your grid independence.

Battery energy storage can play a key role

Savvy homeowners have recognized the important role battery energy storage can play in their properties. By storing the electricity produced by your solar system in designated batteries, your heat pump can still operate even without sunlight.

Given the government's announcement that gas boilers will be phased out over the next few years, new homes will almost certainly be built with air or ground source heat pumps instead.

At Leomon, we are already working with property developers to reduce the dependence of new homes on the grid and are excited to install solar panels and battery storage systems in properties everywhere.

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